PAINTING by my Mom...ca 1952
The cottage at Bell Hallow was built in 1932 by a friend of my grand parents who visited often, hunting deer and fishing for steelhead. Eventually, my mom and dad took over this cute little cottage in the woods. We spent the summer days floating and exploring the river, venturing through the mountains, fishing for crawfish and steelhead, going to the beach in Santa Cruz, watching the hawks make lazy circles in the sky, and visiting my grand parents. This is a unique place of long summer nights viewing the stars, hearing the crickets sing, the frogs croak, and the mysterious night critters chatter along with the song of the river.. Come and enjoy the peace.
PAINTING BY Molly Milligan......ca 2012
Over the years the cottage turned into what it is today......A place to share with you.
The redwood trees in this area were clear cut to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. Most of what you see are now 100 years old with the exception of Big Basin and Henry Cowell Parks. They can reach to be 2,000 years old. Their existence speaks for themselves, not in words, but rather in a soft-toned voice of patience and endurance.
Photo by Molly Milligan
There are hundreds of verities of moss and liken and mushroom grows to be found. The soft textures and shades of greens, browns, grays, with spots of color in tiny blooms, are magical.
Photo by Molly Milligan
How did the name BELL HALLOW come to be?
When San Francisco was rebuilt in 1906 from the ground up with the Redwoods from the Santa Cruz Mountains, they needed a way to get the redwood trunks from the mountains to the saw mills in the valley. Thus they built flues, like a half pipe, out of redwood and oxen guided the trunks down river. Each oxen wore a rack of bells, like the one above, on their harnesses. The tinkering and clanging of the bells, as the oxen lumbered down the river banks could be heard loud and clear.. Years later when many guests expressed their feelings of this land being a healing place, the word Hallow (sacred) came to our minds. We simply added the two words together….thus BELL HALLOW.
photo by Molly Milligan
Photo by Molly Milligan
Travels with Charlie by John Steinbach....his thoughts on the big reds.
"There is a cathedral like hush here. From them comes a feeling of peace within.
The thick soft bark seems to absorb sound and creates a warm silence.
The trees rise straight up to zenith there is no horizon.
The dawn comes very early and remains dawn until the sun is high.
The green fern-like foliage, so far up. strains the sunlight to a green and gold.
These majestic ambassadors distribute it into their own patterns of light and shade.
After the sun passes zenith it is afternoon and quickly evening with a whisper of dusk as long as the dawn."
The mountains are the home of deer, bob cat, mountain lions, coyote, raccoons, fox, rabbit, quail, bluejays, butterflies, bats, skunk, hummingbirds, and so much more. It's a wild sanctuary for beautiful creatures.
Photo byMolly Milligan
Unusual sunset here in the redwoods. Notice the sliver of the moon in the upper center of the photograph.
Photo by Molly Miligan
Come see for yourself and explore the magic and spirit of Bell Hallow.
Untouched Photo of my granddaughter by Molly Milligan