Happy Birthday Bill Wulf!

By Debra Staab

Happy 85th Birthday to Los Gatos historian Bill Wulf!  Willian A. Wulf was born January 12, 1939 in San Jose where he lived on 4th Street near the RR tracks until 1948 when his family moved to Los Gatos. Bill had loved living by the train tracks, and at age 12 he joined the Central Coast Railway Club. There he met renowned historian Clyde Arbuckle, who quickly became his history mentor.  Bill also met a boy at school named Ronnie, who wore a Roy Rogers outfit and was an avid history buff.  Ronnie’s parents also had an interest in history and furnished their son’s room with a great deal of old time decor.  Ronnie and his family triggered Bill’s lifelong interest in collecting antiques.  

After high school, Bill earned an AA degree in History from San Jose City College.  Degree in hand, Bill worked in a furniture refinishing store for a couple of years.  In 1961 when the store closed, Bill began a long career as a hospital orderly at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where his colleagues described him as being always helpful, gentle, and inspiring.  In 2023, after 62 years at the hospital, Bill finally retired.  

During those many years as an orderly, Bill’s thirst for history never waned.  His painstaking research on Los Gatos and the nearby mountains resulted in the publication of A History of the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1979.  Bill also detailed the life story of George L. Colegrove, stagecoach driver and train operator. Additionally, Bill wrote various stories about the famous pioneer Mountain Charley.  He is quoted in at least 125 books.  Bill also taught a history class at De Anza College in the early ‘80s and gave a history talk in the Santa Cruz Mountains during Los Gatos Centennial year in 1987

Bill’s collection of antiques is extensive, and even after he recently donated dozens of large items to local museums, just about every square inch of his home remains filled with the past.  It is a museum unto itself packed with historical furniture, signs, paintings, photos, models, telecommunications equipment, typewriters, cameras, lanterns, clocks, and dozens of other fascinating tchotchkes.

Mr. Wulf has dedicated his entire life to public service both in the healthcare and history arenas.  His historical works continue to inform and educate the community, and we at the LPM are ever grateful for his extensive contributions.  Bill loves to hear from the locals, and you can reach him at 408.249.0655.  Cheers to Bill’s 85th year, and we wish him many more!