The Diversity Center in Old Branciforte proudly hosted the art of Julia Elizabeth Lonergan, a local artist-activist-writer, called "Mexico-California in Pictures". The show has 12 Sufi, Saints, Native American Indians, and a Welch princess all protecting Capitola's Magnolia Rose Hotel. The show, which ran through March, features Lonergan & A. Guerioli's new book, The Haunting of Mission Santa Cruz, Mexico, 1708 to 1876, which deals with the California "land grabs" by a group of Radical Puritans and the real history of Santa Cruz and Branciforte when it was Mexico.

Mission Santa Cruz was a Spanish-Moorish Mission, Villa de Branciforte was a port on the Monterey Bay and Capitola was the Capitola of Alta California Mexico and the Spanish-mexican navy was under Governor J. Joe Castro since 1787, and his then son-in-law by 1840. Gov. Joe Castro governed from the so-called haunted “Rispin Mansion” on Soquel and Wharf. This solid stone, 4 story, 22 bedroom mansion was the North Mexican White House used for international diplomacy by the Governor Joe Castro I (1797-1800), the famous Luis Maria Valenzia (1800-1831) and Governor Joe Castro II, from 1837 to 1867.

Read more | Audio: Interview on FRSC About the Book