Guide to the Koehle Twins Collection (1890s – 1990s)

George Mitchell, Manager of Capitola Wharf [1870-195os?]
Captain George Mitchell’s journey to California began in 1893. Journeying from Kansas, he arrived in San Jose when he was twenty-three years of age. Having never set eyes on a large body of water before, he was excited by the prospect of getting a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean while in California. Although he was not very impressed with his first sight of the San Francisco Bay, George’s time near the bay would greatly influence his life. There he was enchanted by the naptha engine (a combustion engine powered by naptha rather than gasoline) powered boat “Virginia”, which was a frequent cruise boat in Capitola. This idea must have inspired Mitchell, as he acquired two boats like the “Virginia”. Mitchell eventually found his way to Capitola, CA where he became a wharfinger in 1894. He rented skiffs, as well as renting two launches, the “Bessie” and the “Capitola”. The “Bessie” he would rent for cruises; later he owned and operated a commercial fishing boat named “Bessie” as well. George Mitchell wed Kathryn Mitchell and they took up residence at 221 San Jose Avenue in Capitola (Source: “Fisning From the Decks of Capt’n Mitchell’s Old Naptha Launch” newspaper article, unknown date and source. From SC MAH Koehle Twins Collection). For more than thirty-nine years, George Mitchell managed the Capitola Wharf, and was lauded for his management; state inspector’s visiting the wharf during Mitchell’s management called it the cleanest wharf on the Pacific Coast (Source: “Capitola Pier ‘Cleanest on Pacific Coast’” S.C. Evening News, 9/10/1933). In 1941, Mitchell remodeled the Capitola wharf and maintained it for many years (“Capitola Wharf Being Remodeled…”S.C. Evening News 8/29/1941). George Mitchell led an eventful life leading cruises in Capitola, witnessing boat accidents, and rescuing youths in danger of drowning while swimming on Capitola beaches (Sources: “ Body of Victim of Boat Upset Found Yesterday” S.C. Sentinel 5/21/1933; “San Jose Boy Rescued From Surf Drowning” S.C. Sentinel 9/10/1933). In 1960, Mitchell’s wife Kathryn passed away. Mitchell preceded her in death though his exact date of passing is unknown at this time (“Kathryn Mitchell Dies in Hospital” S.C. Sentinel 9/6/1960).

The Koehle Twins-Ruth Koehle and Naomi Koehle
Ruth and Naomi Koehle, the nieces of George Mitchell and Kathryn Mitchell often visited Capitola during the summertime in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Natives of Santa Clara, CA, they were faculty members at Santa Clara and Alvorada in 1933. They also attended Swope Summer School during their visits to Capitola (S.C. Sentinel 7/6/1933 pg.9). Naomi and Ruth Koehle were daughters of Ignatius and Emma Koehle. They had several siblings—Josephine Schwartz of Campbell, and George and Lillie Koehle. In 1975 Naomi passed away at age sixty-six. She was interred in Santa Clara Mission Cemetery (Source: S.C. Sentinel 11/20/1975 pg. 32). Ruth Koehle (later Ruth Davis) became a teacher at Santa Clara Unified School District. She taught elementary school there for many years before retiring; she was a resident of Santa Cruz since 1963. Ruth passed away in 2001 at the age of ninety-one, funeral services were held at Villa Maria in East Cliff (Source: “Ruth K. Davis” S.C. Sentinel 3/29/2001).

SERIES I. PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM

SERIES II. PHOTOS, POSTCARDS, DEEDS

Subseries II.A. Photographs
Subseries II.B. Postcards
Subseries II.C. Deeds
Subseries II.D. Business Cards and Brochures
Subseries II.E. Newspaper Clippings
Subseries II.F. Portrait

SERIES III. FISHING HEADQUARTERS CARDS, POSTCARDS, AND CLIPPINGS

Subseries III.A. Newspaper Clippings
Subseries III.B. Photos and Postcards
Subseries III.C. Fishing Headquarters Cards

SERIES I. PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM (1906 – 1919)

One (1) Album, One (1) Box

Series Scope and Content Summary:

This series consists of one (1) approximately 9 x 13” photo album bound in tan material that may be suede or leather. Inside are photos of the Koehle family twins, Ruth and Naomi Koehle. Other photos include unidentified women and other individuals on the Big Trees Trestle bridge, Big Basin Road, Southern Pacific trains, and many photos of young women and men (unidentified) posing in front of a log cabin at an unspecified location. There are also about two (2) pages of photos of the Koehle Twin when they were children, perhaps between 5-7 years of age. There are also photos of individuals in the redwoods, and approx. six or seven photos at an unidentified beach that may be near the Santa Cruz boardwalk, though this is not certain. There is also a nice approx. 6×7” photo of five (5) children in a creek, the photo is captioned “Stephen’s Creek 1906”. Other photos include Byron Hot Springs, Oakland, one of the Felton Baseball Team, a page of photos labeled “The Cabin at New Brighton” which may show New Brighton beach, and much more. These black and white photos range in size from 2 ½” x 3” to approx. 9×10” in size. There are approx. sixty (60) double-sided pages of photos in this album. Except for some dog-eared photos here and there, the large majority of photos are in very good condition. This album includes about seven or more pages of photos taken at various beaches and is an excellent portrait of life in the early 1900’s. The majority of the photos are undated, though a few are dated 1906 and 1919. There are also about four or more pages of intriguing photos of unidentified men in uniforms at what appears to be an unidentified army camp with tents. Overall, the album is in very condition and a nice resource for those interested in seeing photos of beaches, redwoods, and World War I era photos from the early 1900’s to approximately 1919. Estimated date range: 1906-1919

Location:
Box 1

SERIES II. PHOTOS, POSTCARDS, DEEDS (1880s – 1990s)

One (1) Box, six (6) folders

Series Scope and Content Summary:

This series consists of six (6) folders within one (1) box. This series contains sixty-seven loose photographs of the Koehle twin Ruth and Naomi, their aunt, and friends, primarily at the beach or at various locations in Capitola. Other photos include the Capitola trestle bridge and the wharf. Other items include deeds for Lot F of Camp Capitola (dated 1883 and 1908), business cards for Captain George Mitchell, brochure for Hotel Capitola, newspaper clippings of wharf history and more. Date range: 1880s-mid 1930s

This series is divided into the following subseries:

Subseries II.A. Photographs
Subseries II.B. Postcards
Subseries II.C. Deeds
Subseries II.D. Business Cards and Brochures
Subseries II.E. Newspaper Clippings
Subseries II.F. Portrait

SUBSERIES II.A. PHOTOGRAPHS (1900s – 1920s)

One (1) folder, 67 items

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This series consists sixty-seven (67) loose photographs taken of the Koehle twins during their childhood and teenage years. Included are many images of the twins at the Capitola beach with their Aunt Katherine (George Mitchell’s wife). Some of the photos were taken at 221 San Jose Ave., Capitola; and at the Capitola train trestle bridge. Also included is a large approx. 8 x 15” image of the Capitola train trestle bridge with a train going across; a large approx. 9×10” photo of the Koehle twins Ruth and Naomi in the ocean with their Aunt Kathryn; three (3) photos of the Bessie Launch (owned by Captain G.E. Mitchell), a 9×8” image of Capitola wharf; and a 9×8” image of a wharf with storm damage. The photos are black and white, in good condition, and range in size from approx. 4 x 3 ½” to 8x 15” in size. The photos are in protective folders and likely date from the mid 1900s-1920’s.

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
2:1

SUBSERIES II.B. POSTCARDS (1920s)

Five (5) Items, One (1) Folder

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This series consists of 5 black and white photographic postcards of Capitola and the Koehle twins. These postcards include one of Ruth and Naomi Koehle standing on the Capitola Wharf, and one of children swimming in Capitola which was sent by Ruth and Naomi to their older sister Lillie who lived in Santa Clara in 1920. Date range: 1920s

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
2:2

SUBSERIES II.C. DEEDS (1880 – 1900s)

One (1) folder, two (2) Items

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This series consists of two deeds. The first is from F.A. Hihn to Reinhart H. Schwartz, dated July 13, 1883 for a lot in Capitola. The second is from Reinhart H. Schwartz, dated Feb. 4, 1908 The deed concerns Lot Number Five of Camp Capitola; ten dollars was exchanged for block “F” of Camp Capitola between Frank Schubert and Reinhart Schwartz. Items are fragile. Date range:1880s-1900s

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
2:3

SUBSERIES II.D. BUSINESS CARDS AND BROCHURES

1 folder, 3 Items

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This subseries consists of five (5) business cards and one (1) brochure. The business cards are for Captain George Mitchell. Two 2 x3” card are for “Capitola Wharf Co., Capt. G.E. Mitchell, Row Boats for Hire” and three (3) 2×4” cards are entitled “Fishing Headquarters / Launch Bessie”. Also included is an advertising pamphlet or brochure with photos and a rate schedule for Hotel Capitola, “The Seaside Resort of Central California”.

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
2:4

SUBSERIES II.E. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS (1950s – 1990s)

1 folder, 4 Items

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This subseries consists of four (4) photo copies of newspaper clippings. Included are “Wharf Has Interesting History”, 1955 by Wally Trabing of the Santa Cruz Sentinel; “ Fishing From the Decks of Capt’n Mitchell’s Old Naptha Launch” (no date, source unknown); Opening Day, But the Water Runs Low”, 1990; and “Fred Oehler wins From Payne; Ruth Koehle Is Victor”, no date or source, about a tennis match.

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
2:5

SUBSERIES II.F. PORTRAIT (1920s)

One (1) Folder

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This subseries consists of one (1) folder, containing one (1) approx. 7×6” black and white Studio portrait of Ruth and Naomi Koehle. This photo is mounted inside a decorative paper studio frame and include cardboard envelope with the studio name “Bersano, Santa Clara, CAL” on the bottom. It is in good condition and possibly dated to the mid-1920s.

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
2:6

SERIES III. FISHING HEADQUARTERS CARDS, POSTCARDS, AND CLIPPINGS

One (1) Box, Three (3) Folders

Series Scope and Content Summary:

This series contains photos and postcards of the Koehle twins, newspaper clippings about George Mitchell and the Capitola Wharf, and over one-hundred business cards belonging to George Mitchell, advertising his boat “Bessie”.

This series is divided into the following subseries:

Subseries III.A. Newspaper Clippings
Subseries III.B. Photos and Postcards
Subseries III.C. Fishing Headquarters Cards

SUBSERIES III.A. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

Three (3) Items, one (1) folder

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This subseries consists of three (3) items. These are original newspaper clippings of some of the photocopied article that are included in Subseries II.E. These clippings include the original Sandy Lydon article from the Santa Cruz Sentinel entitled “Opening day, but the water runs low”; article entitled “Fishing from the Decks of Capt’n Mitchell’s Old Naptha Launch” (no date or identifiable newspaper source); and “Fred Oehler Wins From Paybe; Ruth Koehle is Victor” (no date or source). These items are located in an approx. 9×6” acid free envelope being called a “folder” for this subseries.

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
3:1

SUBSERIES III.B. PHOTOS AND POSTCARDS (1918 – 1920s)

One (1) Folder, eleven (11) photos

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This subseries consists of eleven (11) loose photographs and photo-postcards. These photos are black and white photos, and range in size from approx. 2×4” to 6×5”. These photos are of Ruth and Naomi Koehle and their friends and/or siblings on the beach and wharf near or at Capitola, CA when they were about 6-8 years of age and 13-16 years of age. The date of these photos are estimated to be around 1918 to the mid 1920s. These items are located in an approx. 9×6” acid free envelope being called a “folder” for this subseries.

Box ID#: Folder ID:
3:2

SUBSERIES III.C. FISHING HEADQUARTERS CARDS

One-hundred and forty (140) cards, one (1) folder

Subseries Scope and Content Summary:

This subseries consists of approximately one-hundred and forty or more 3×5” business cards entitled “Fishing Headquarters-Launch ‘Bessie’” and containing rental information for the Boat Bessie and other row boats for rent from Capt. George Mitchell of Capitola. These cards are in several different colors including pink, green, pale peach and blue. Other cards include some approx. 2×3 ½” beige colored business cards entitled “Capitola Wharf Co. Capt. G.E. Mitchell, Wharfinger” along with an address and “Row Boats for Hire”. There are approx. twenty or more of these cards in an envelope inside Folder 3 of this Subseries. Cards are in good condition with some slight yellowing.

Box ID#: Folder ID#:
3:3