Photo: Fred Wagner in his backyard with his portable blacksmith equipment, March 14, 1962
Wagner was born in Santa Cruz and became an apprentice blacksmith at the age of 17. By 24 he was the owner of his own shop. He discusses all the aspects of blacksmithing and horseshoeing and also gives an excellent account of the skills possessed by the jerk-line teamsters and six-in-hand drivers. In the middle portion of the book, Mr. Wagner describes his boyhood years on his father's diversified farm that was situated at the edge of Santa Cruz--the crops that were raised, the foods that were prepared at home, the game and fowl acquired by hunting, and the family's account book at the town grocery store. He also discusses his schooling and the various ethnic groups that were living in Santa Cruz during his youth. The final third of the book deals with Santa Cruz in the years around the turn of the century. The popular forms of entertainment are mentioned, as are early travel conditions, gunfights, medical and hospital care, and city and county government. The book concludes with a tour through the portion of the Henry Cowell Ranch that is now the University of California, Santa Cruz. Wagner reminisces about the ranch as he knew it in his youth.