Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Basham Boarding House

1891

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 29, 2022

1. Basham Boarding House Marker

Inscription. Built by J.W. Basham, his daughter Rachel operated the boarding house after inheriting it in 1903. An ice cream parlor owned by Mildred Moody Cress later occupied the ground floor. In 1920, Newton Raymor bought the property and re-named it the Rex Hotel. In the late 20’s, the ice cream parlor was replaced by a Mexican restaurant managed by Raymor’s wife. In the 1950’s, the name was changed to the “Boulder Club,” a bar with a rough-and-tumble reputation, and a favorite hangout for bikers. The building’s exterior has been completely restored to its original configuration.
13133 Central Avenue

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 37° 7.466′ N, 122° 7.329′ W. Marker is in Boulder Creek, California, in Santa Cruz County. Marker is on Central Avenue (California Route 9), on the left when traveling north. The marker is in the window to the right of the front door. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13133 CA-9, Boulder Creek CA 95006, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. I.O.O.F. Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Mountain Echo Newspaper Office (within shouting distance of this marker); The Swamp House (within shouting distance of this

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marker); Women's Christian Temperance Union (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stagg/Hartman House (about 600 feet away); McLeod House (approx. ¼ mile away); Grace Episcopal Church Building (approx. half a mile away); Brown Family Residence (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boulder Creek.

Also see . . . Rex Hotel (1884 – 1932). "For being one of the oldest standing buildings in Boulder Creek, surprisingly little is known about the Rex Hotel, largely because it has a confused and conflated history with another hotel that was located two buildings over: the Basham House. The current building called the Basham House has historically always been the Rex Hotel. Established as early as 1884 as a bordello, the hotel did not gain any respectability until the early 1920s after Newton Ernest Raymer took over the building." (Submitted on August 3, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Basham Boarding House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 29, 2022

2. Basham Boarding House

The Rex Hotel as it appeared in 1990 while hosting the Boulder Club. [Santa Cruz Sentinel] image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Www.santacruztrains.com/2019/08/curiosities-boulder-creek-area-resorts.html

3. The Rex Hotel as it appeared in 1990 while hosting the Boulder Club. [Santa Cruz Sentinel]

A trio of hotels on Central Avenue, c. 1912 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Www.santacruztrains.com/2019/08/curiosities-boulder-creek-area-resorts.html

4. A trio of hotels on Central Avenue, c. 1912

In the foreground is the Rex Hotel, next to it sits the original Basham House, and in the distance is the palatial Alpine House. [San Lorenzo Valley Museum]

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 194 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 3, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.