Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA) is inviting all residents and businesses to an informational meeting about its newly formed Village Alliance.
Come and meet community members and business owners who share a vision for the town on Saturday, April 20, from 10:30am-12pm, at Ben Lomond Park Hall, 9370 Mill St. Learn about the goals that BLVA are building for the community and share thoughts, ideas and ways that residents might help bring life to the village of Ben Lomond.
The focus of the group is Town Beautification, Events and Promotion, Economic Vitality and Long Term Planning.
“We are inspired by organizations like Main Street America, which are impact-driven organizations to re-energize and strengthen historic small towns just like ours,” according to BLVA. “Come and share your ideas, enthusiasm and talents by becoming a collaborative BLVA member. Please join us in taking a positive and active role in our mountain community. This is a volunteer group building initiatives that reflect what our community wants to see happen in our town.”
Ben Lomond is a unique place with a long and varied history dating back to the 1800s.
“We have seen many changes throughout the years and we are all fortunate to live in such a uniquely beautiful place,” stated BLVA.
An early Scottish settler on the western slope, John Burns, named the mountain after his ancestral home in 1851. Burns was one of the first vintners in the Santa Cruz Mountains and also noted for naming Bonny Doon.
In 1877, the village was called Pacific Mills by James P. Pierce, the owner of the local saw mill of the same name. Ten years later, in 1887, the town applied for a U.S. Post Office and the name was changed to Ben Lomond, honoring the nearby mountain.
Ben Lomond has 28 historic buildings registered with the county. The Ben Lomond Park Hall, Ben Lomond Library, Hessey House also known as the Fredda C. Carr building, currently Sew Rose, are all registered historical buildings located on the downtown block of Mill Street.
Wee Kirk Church and Saint Andrews Church are also part of the historic building legacy. Up on the ridge, the Quail Hollow Ranch building is a historic destination too.
In the 1920s, Ben Lomond decided as a community to create public river access for all. Property owners along the river donated their land to the county in order to build a local park. The buildings on that location were moved collectively to a new location in order for the park to exist.
“This is a great example of what our mountain town can do when working together,” BLVA stated. “We would love to share this energy and excitement together at the Ben Lomond Village Alliance. It is our desire to celebrate, develop and nurture a greater sense of community that we will all benefit from. It is in this spirit of community we invite you to come and participate in the Ben Lomond Village Alliance.”
