Los Gatos in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Patchen
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 12, 2012
1. Patchen Marker
“Mountain Charley” McKiernan, one of the earliest residents of the Santa Crux Mountains, settled near here in 1850. John Martin Schultheis and his wife homesteaded land about a mile from here in 1852. Their home still standing (1950). The Patchen Post Office, named for a famous race horse, was located in this vicinity, 1872-1920’s.
small lower plaque:
Restored by Los Gatos Chapter DAR, 1968.
Erected 1950 by California Centennial Commission, Los Gatos Lions Club, and Los Gatos Chapter DAR. (Marker Number 448.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Daughters of the American Revolution series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 37° 8.888′ N, 121° 58.458′ W. Marker is in Los Gatos, California, in Santa Clara County. It is on Old Santa Cruz Highway just north of Mountain Charlie Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Gatos CA 95033, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mountain Charlie Road (approx. 0.7 miles away); Chateau Liberté (approx. 0.9 miles away); Mountain Charlies Cabin
this page online
Also see . . . Patchen - History. Website homepage:
Patchen, California is one of five "Ghost Towns of the Santa Cruz Mountains" which grew and flourished during the last half of the nineteenth century. (Submitted on March 13, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 12, 2012
2. Patchen Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,174 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 13, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
