Pringle Grove History
Pringle Grove has been used as a picnic grounds since the late 1800s when it was known as Hihn (or Hihn’s) Grove. It was established by landowner F. A. Hihn (pronounced heen) and used by a variety of organizations including lodge, church, temperance, and school groups. The grove sat unused in the early 1900s until purchased by neighbors Lloyd and Anne Pringle who restored it in 1939 and made it once again available as a picnic grounds. It thereafter became known as Pringle Grove.
1869. “Soquel Lodge, No. 279, I.O.G.T., had a public installation of Officers at Hihn’s Grove, on Tuesday last. A picnic crowned the occasion, and many of the friends of the temperance cause assented to and did fill the inner thereat. The society numbers seventy members in good standing, and like the wings of pease is spreading its inviting shade over the morality and good principles of the young men of Soquel. May she ever prosper.”--Weekly Sentinel, August 14, 1869, p. 3. [I.O.G.T. is the International Organization of Good Templars.]
1871. “C. of R. C. Picnic! - The Champions of The Red Cross . . . Grand Celebration on Saturday, April 29, 1871. . . . the different Encampments will form in line and march to Hihn’s Grove, where an oration will be delivered, and a Grand Barbecue served up for all assembled.” --Weekly Sentinel, April 22, 1871, p. 2. [The Independent Champions of The Red Cross was a late 19th century social organization promoting Christianity, temperance, and morality.]
1875. The local I.O.O.F. lodges honor the 52nd anniversary of the Odd Fellows in America with a celebration at “Hihn’s Grove, where the day will be celebrated by an oration, singing, dancing, and a general social re-union, and Odd Fellow’s Picnic. . . . Emerson’s Brass and String Band is engaged for the occasion. . . . Mr. F. A. Hihn has a dancing pavilion in this favorite picnic grove, and is ever ready and pleased to have parties go there and enjoy themselves. On this occasion Mr. N. Burk will be on the grounds with his confectionery, fruits, nuts, ice cream and all other luxuries in his line, as well as oysters, pies, cakes, sandwiches, and such other eatables and refreshments. . . .” --Weekly Sentinel, April 20, 1872, p. 3. [I.O.O.F. is the International Order of Odd Fellows.]
1878. “At Hihn’s Grove on the Fourth a thousand pounds of meat were barbecued, and the three hundred people present fared sumptuously. Every body picniced. No literary exercises.” --Weekly Sentinel, July 13, 1878, p. 3.
1881. “The Druids’ picnic yesterday at Hihn’s Grove was largely attended by residents of this city.” --Weekly Sentinel, May 7, 1881, p. 3. [The Ancient Order of Druids was (and still is) a lodge.]
1882. “The celebration at Hihn’s Grove by the Santa Cruz County Pioneers was a grand and pleasant affair. The owner of the grove, himself a pioneer, had put the place in capital order at his own expense. The association was enthusiastic. They had secured the services of the Soquel Band, provided large quantities of food, and turned out to a ‘man, woman and child.’” --Weekly Sentinel, May 6, 1882, p. 3.
1883. “The pupils of Live Oak School, taught by Mrs. L. D. Gardner, held a picnic at Hihn’s Grove Wednesday.” --Weekly Sentinel, June 2, 1883, p. 2.
1885. “The Soquel churches will have a basket meeting at Hihn’s Grove the 23d, 24th, and 25th of May.” --Sentinel, May 14, 1885, p. 3.
1891. “The picnic held last Friday by the residents of San Joaquin County, now making their summer pilgrimage at Capitola, at Hihn’s Grove near Soquel, was a grand success, and was as jolly a party as ever gathered together in this county.” Races of 50 yards were held for boys under 12, girls under 12, gents over 12, young ladies, and married ladies. There was also a “fat man’s race,” a “fat ladies’ race,” a spoon and egg race, and a “tug of war between married and single men.” --Sentinel, August 26, 1891, p. 2.
Early 1900s. Lloyd and Anne Pringle purchase the grove.
1939. “The Santa Cruz county Federation of Women’s clubs and Santa Cruz County Nurses association will picnic Saturday, rain or shine. If it is a warm, sunny day they will meet at Hihn’s grove, one-half mile north of the Soquel postoffice. . . .” Evening News, May 26, 1939, p. 5. [This was one of the last times it was called Hihn’s Grove. Lloyd Pringle restored it as a picnic grounds in the Spring of 1939 after it was unused for several decades. Thereafter it became known as Pringle Grove.]
1939. “Preceding the regular monthly lodge meeting, Martha Washington Rebekahs had a jolly potluck supper in the Pringle grove, Soquel, last night.” --Sentinel, July 6, 1939, p. 3.
1940. “Soquel Pioneer club, of which Mrs. H. V . Angell of Soquel is president, is planning the annual picnic meeting to be held in Pringle Grove, Soquel, Saturday, July 27.” --Sentinel, July 12, 1940, p. 3.
1942. “Soquel Parent-Teacher Association will have a picnic at Pringle Grove Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All members and their friends are invited.” --Sentinel, August 19, 1942, p. 3.
1944. “Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Pringle, owners of the grove which was originally the F. A. Hihn property, famed for its picnics in the early history of the county, surprised and pleased the [Pioneer] club when they stated they were going too give the grove to the Pioneer club. . . .” --Sentinel, July 31, 1944, p. 3. [The grove was donated in 1945.]
1948. “Soquel volunteer fire department is holding its third annual picnic at Pringle’s Grove at Soquel, starting at noon Sunday.” --Sentinel July 13, 1948, p. 12.
1952. The Townsend Clubs from the 10th Congressional District hold their annual picnic at Pringle Grove. --Sentinel, July 16, 1952, p. 1.
1964. Carrie Lodge unveils the Michael Lodge Memorial Flagpole at the annual Pioneers Picnic, July 25. --Sentinel, July 26, 1964, p. 13.
1981. New barbecue pit dedicated in memory of Martina Castro Lodge. --Sentinel, July 19, 1981, p. 30.
2020. Annual Pioneers Picnic not held due to Covid pandemic.
2022. Martina Castro mill stones moved to create a display at the entrance to the grove.
1871. “C. of R. C. Picnic! - The Champions of The Red Cross . . . Grand Celebration on Saturday, April 29, 1871. . . . the different Encampments will form in line and march to Hihn’s Grove, where an oration will be delivered, and a Grand Barbecue served up for all assembled.” --Weekly Sentinel, April 22, 1871, p. 2. [The Independent Champions of The Red Cross was a late 19th century social organization promoting Christianity, temperance, and morality.]
1875. The local I.O.O.F. lodges honor the 52nd anniversary of the Odd Fellows in America with a celebration at “Hihn’s Grove, where the day will be celebrated by an oration, singing, dancing, and a general social re-union, and Odd Fellow’s Picnic. . . . Emerson’s Brass and String Band is engaged for the occasion. . . . Mr. F. A. Hihn has a dancing pavilion in this favorite picnic grove, and is ever ready and pleased to have parties go there and enjoy themselves. On this occasion Mr. N. Burk will be on the grounds with his confectionery, fruits, nuts, ice cream and all other luxuries in his line, as well as oysters, pies, cakes, sandwiches, and such other eatables and refreshments. . . .” --Weekly Sentinel, April 20, 1872, p. 3. [I.O.O.F. is the International Order of Odd Fellows.]
1878. “At Hihn’s Grove on the Fourth a thousand pounds of meat were barbecued, and the three hundred people present fared sumptuously. Every body picniced. No literary exercises.” --Weekly Sentinel, July 13, 1878, p. 3.
1881. “The Druids’ picnic yesterday at Hihn’s Grove was largely attended by residents of this city.” --Weekly Sentinel, May 7, 1881, p. 3. [The Ancient Order of Druids was (and still is) a lodge.]
1882. “The celebration at Hihn’s Grove by the Santa Cruz County Pioneers was a grand and pleasant affair. The owner of the grove, himself a pioneer, had put the place in capital order at his own expense. The association was enthusiastic. They had secured the services of the Soquel Band, provided large quantities of food, and turned out to a ‘man, woman and child.’” --Weekly Sentinel, May 6, 1882, p. 3.
1883. “The pupils of Live Oak School, taught by Mrs. L. D. Gardner, held a picnic at Hihn’s Grove Wednesday.” --Weekly Sentinel, June 2, 1883, p. 2.
1885. “The Soquel churches will have a basket meeting at Hihn’s Grove the 23d, 24th, and 25th of May.” --Sentinel, May 14, 1885, p. 3.
1891. “The picnic held last Friday by the residents of San Joaquin County, now making their summer pilgrimage at Capitola, at Hihn’s Grove near Soquel, was a grand success, and was as jolly a party as ever gathered together in this county.” Races of 50 yards were held for boys under 12, girls under 12, gents over 12, young ladies, and married ladies. There was also a “fat man’s race,” a “fat ladies’ race,” a spoon and egg race, and a “tug of war between married and single men.” --Sentinel, August 26, 1891, p. 2.
Early 1900s. Lloyd and Anne Pringle purchase the grove.
1939. “The Santa Cruz county Federation of Women’s clubs and Santa Cruz County Nurses association will picnic Saturday, rain or shine. If it is a warm, sunny day they will meet at Hihn’s grove, one-half mile north of the Soquel postoffice. . . .” Evening News, May 26, 1939, p. 5. [This was one of the last times it was called Hihn’s Grove. Lloyd Pringle restored it as a picnic grounds in the Spring of 1939 after it was unused for several decades. Thereafter it became known as Pringle Grove.]
1939. “Preceding the regular monthly lodge meeting, Martha Washington Rebekahs had a jolly potluck supper in the Pringle grove, Soquel, last night.” --Sentinel, July 6, 1939, p. 3.
1940. “Soquel Pioneer club, of which Mrs. H. V . Angell of Soquel is president, is planning the annual picnic meeting to be held in Pringle Grove, Soquel, Saturday, July 27.” --Sentinel, July 12, 1940, p. 3.
1942. “Soquel Parent-Teacher Association will have a picnic at Pringle Grove Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All members and their friends are invited.” --Sentinel, August 19, 1942, p. 3.
1944. “Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Pringle, owners of the grove which was originally the F. A. Hihn property, famed for its picnics in the early history of the county, surprised and pleased the [Pioneer] club when they stated they were going too give the grove to the Pioneer club. . . .” --Sentinel, July 31, 1944, p. 3. [The grove was donated in 1945.]
1948. “Soquel volunteer fire department is holding its third annual picnic at Pringle’s Grove at Soquel, starting at noon Sunday.” --Sentinel July 13, 1948, p. 12.
1952. The Townsend Clubs from the 10th Congressional District hold their annual picnic at Pringle Grove. --Sentinel, July 16, 1952, p. 1.
1964. Carrie Lodge unveils the Michael Lodge Memorial Flagpole at the annual Pioneers Picnic, July 25. --Sentinel, July 26, 1964, p. 13.
1981. New barbecue pit dedicated in memory of Martina Castro Lodge. --Sentinel, July 19, 1981, p. 30.
2020. Annual Pioneers Picnic not held due to Covid pandemic.
2022. Martina Castro mill stones moved to create a display at the entrance to the grove.