Los Gatos is a great place to live, but the early explorers must have been truly thrilled when oil was discovered at Moody Gulch and later in areas that are now part of the Town of Los Gatos. A few weeks ago, this blog covered the topic of the old oil pump that can be seen in a parking lot on Los Gatos Boulevard. My husband, Jim Handy, became intrigued by this topic and once again is providing a guest blog here, this time on the Belwood connection to oil. (Jim's previous contribution was April 22nd, when he posted on Harwood Road being a meridian.)

Oil in Belwood?  Guest post by Jim Handy

A USGS map found in 2000 shows that there was an "old oil well" near the intersection of Harwood and Belridge*.  This map was drawn about 100 years ago, and there was oil exploration here as early as the 1860s, so there's no telling when it was drilled.  In those days citizens weren't as circumspect about telling the state what they were up to as they are today.

Driving through the Central Valley or Central Coast areas of California, you see lots of oil pumps working busily. Oftentimes they are painted green, and sometimes they're even decorated with springy antennae so that they look like mechanical grasshoppers.  They are so goofy looking that you just have to smile.

They're a part of the rural landscape in other parts of California.

But you really do not expect to find these things in Los Gatos.

Oil was first discovered in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Moody Gulch  in 1861 (the California Highway Patrol has named the bend in the road near there "Big Moody Curve").  It ended up not being a moneymaker, and drilling there stopped in 1912.  Closer in to town, there were 12 functioning oil wells in Los Gatos between 1891 and 1929. 

The one pictured here was apparently pumping oil into the 1950s, though, and supposedly was giving out 8 barrels a day in 1953. But it was just not enough to justify the effort.

So this tethered pump, surrounded by a small chain link fence, now sits in the middle of a paved parking lot, shaded by a very large redwood tree. It really looks out of place next to the giant SUVs and luxury vehicles and tiny Mini Coopers parked there. The pump is a little rusty looking.  The paint is peeling. It looks, well, forgotten.

With gas rapidly approaching $4 a gallon, I am wondering if maybe this pump without a purpose shouldn't be revisited to see if it has something more to give. Maybe our technology would make it feasible to use again. Do you think?

In any case, it's a glimmer of the past.  If it can't be used, perhaps it can be respected.

I vote for a coat of green paint and some springing, bobbing antennae.

Just for old time's sake.