Mystery of Saloonkeeper’s Home is Solved

A year ago I wrote a piece about Thomas Patrick, a former owner of the Union Saloon, the predecessor to Carpe Vino.  Thomas stood behind the bar on Lincoln Way from September 1908 until his death at 38 years of age on June 6, 1912.  I was introduced to his story by his grandson, Doug Patrick of Santa Cruz.

Doug stopped by several times unannounced to Carpe Vino and dropped off photos, legal documents and other information that I used in tell Thomas Patrick’s story, now posted on our web site.  While we’ve had telephone conversations, I finally met him when I stopped by his home on a recent trip to Santa Cruz.

What a nice man!  We had a great chat, and I learned even more about a man whose legacy we continue on Lincoln way, especially where he and his family actually lived:

 

Based on probate documents Doug gave me, I suspected that Thomas, his wife and eight children may have lived in the stone building behind the bar—the Wine Mine.  There was a mention of a lease for a separate “shophouse” building that got me thinking but, thankfully, I was wrong.  It was difficult to imagine such a large group living in our “cave,” but those were different times. . .

The Patrick family actually lived in a house on Buena Vista Street, on the other side of the Auburn-splitting I-80 freeway, just a short distance from the Nevada Street home of Placer County Deputy Sheriff Frank “Big Dip” Dependener (who worked at the Union Saloon some time after Thomas’ death).   Thomas’ father, William Black Patrick (pictured) and an uncle built the house that still stands and is now occupied by a family member.