Wandering through downtown Boulder Creek, visitors and locals alike can peek into mom-and-pop stores, pick up a pizza or enjoy a warm beverage from either of the coffee shops in town. What they haven’t been able to do, though, is find a welcoming place to sit outside along the main strip when you need a break.
That all changed on Sept. 21 as the Boulder Creek Business Association teamed up with Main Street America, a small-town beautification campaign, to unveil its first community bench, purchased by Mabel Baker in honor of her late husband, Jay Baker.
The Bakers have been leading citizens in Boulder Creek since the mid-50s. They moved from Redwood City to the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1957, and in 1963, Jay bought Boulder Creek Hardware, nestled on the corner of the main highway and Forest Street. During his time in town, Jay was involved with the Boulder Creek Fire Department, served on the Board of Directors of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and was president of both the Boulder Creek Business Association and the San Lorenzo Valley Museum.
Jay retired from the store in 1973 and went on to travel extensively with Mabel before his death in 2016. As a tribute to the man who was affectionately known as “Mayor Baker,” Mabel determined that the first bench needed to be installed in front of the hardware store, and she was there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 21.
Tamara O’Kelly, vice president of the Boulder Creek Business Association and chairwoman of Boulder Creek Main Street, was the town liaison who brought the idea to Mabel’s attention in 2019.
“It was such a nice idea. When the first bench was ordered, Tamara and Karen Edwards (President of the Boulder Creek Business Association) suggested that I dedicate that inaugural bench in Jay’s honor, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for years,” said Mabel.
In fact, the installation of the bench in front of Boulder Creek Hardware was one of Mabel’s stipulations.
“This place is so important to our family, and Jay loved it so much. He had always wanted to own a hardware store, and this was his dream come true,” said Mabel.
The dedication plaque will read: “In memory of Jay Baker for his community service.”
It took a long time for the bench project to come to fruition, thanks to requirements by Caltrans, but the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and other local businesses rallied around the idea, and Kevin Foster (of Kevin Foster Construction) and his sidekick, Jordan Booth, donated their time and energy to get the bench installed.
JM Brown, an analyst in Bruce McPherson’s office, was proud of the Supervisors’ support of the project.
“It is remarkably challenging to get anything done on Highway 9 due to CalTrans, but thanks to the determination of the Boulder Creek Business Association and its partners, this great idea and vision was brought to the table, and our office is pleased to support this beautification project,” said Brown.
McPherson’s office can expect another flurry of activity, as another four benches have been ordered and are slated to be installed in various places along Highway 9 in Boulder Creek in the coming months.
After the ribbon-cutting, sparkling cider and donut holes were served—a nod to Mabel’s father who owned and ran a bakery in Boulder Creek.
“We would stop every morning on the way to school and watch fresh donuts being made,” recalled Bert Rocca, a long-time Boulder Creek resident and friend of the Bakers.
“We’re just so thrilled at how the benches turned out,” said O’Kelly. “We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to our beautiful town.”
Care to contribute to the beautification project of Boulder Creek by helping to purchase a bench? Contact Tamara O’Kelly at [email protected].
