As a result, Salz Tannery had to close at 4:15 o.m., so employees had time to shop.Īir raid sirens across the county were at first powered by Model “A” Ford engines. Because one couldn’t rely on streetlights to get home should a blackout occur, the City Council moved business closing time to 5 p.m., so people could get home before sunset. The Seabright light turned out to be the Kelly Hotel sign viewed from a distance and was unplugged as downtown managed at last to extinguish all its lights.
8 blackout, with the exception of the downtown, and a mysterious red light reported in Seabright. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack, the entire town had succeeded in a Dec. Yet this was considered an embarrassing failure under newly imposed World War II blackout regulations.
Twinkling Christmas lights, neon commercial signs, and colorful theater and hotel marquees gave a cozy glow to downtown Santa Cruz, as a beacon for festivities and shopping.
