Showing posts with label Downtown Hollister Historic District. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downtown Hollister Historic District. Show all posts

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Keep the Peace


"The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace." ~ Carlos Santana


Sunday, November 29, 2015

Half-an-Hour to the Parade


Sparkle-sparkle lights floated along San Benito Street yesterday evening to the happy sounds of oohs and aahs of the audience.  The Lights On Celebration Parade last night was a grand one.

I'll have more parade photos to share on Facebook within the next few days. Here are some photos taken before the parade.


The search for a good seat.

Cute pixies on the way to their float.

Who wants to buy a balloon?

Monday, March 2, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: The "New" Buildings


You've probably noticed that Downtown Hollister has several "new" and large buildings on its main street, which are quite compatible in look with the historic buildings. These modern buildings were constructed in the 1990s after the original buildings were destroyed by an earthquake or fire.

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake changed the face of Downtown Hollister in a very big way. The original buildings on the northwest corner of San Benito and Fourth Street collapsed in the earthquake and the commercial buildings that once stood on the lawn in front of the Briggs Building were so unsafe that they were razed a few days later. The structural integrity of a few other buildings was found to be poor so they were demolished, too. The following year, more commercial buildings in Downtown Hollister were destroyed by arson fires.

Obviously, the devastation, along with a drought and economic recession, did not stop the people of Hollister back then. With the help of redevelopment and other grants, they constructed the following handsome buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places.

The 500 Block of San Benito Street



The 600 Block of San Benito Street




The 700 Block of San Benito Street


The Downtown Hollister Historic District series comes to an end with today's post. I hope you've enjoyed the series. To check out past posts of the historic commercial buildings in Downtown Hollister, please head to these links:


Sunday, March 1, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: Noncontributors, Part 4

Okey-dokey, here is the last group of noncontributing historic buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  I'm not completely done with the series though. Come back tomorrow to see photos of buildings within this historic district that went up after the district was entered into the National Register in 1992.

544 San Benito Street


This historic one-story building was constructed around 1920. I think it may have been built for J.C. Penney. As a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I knew this building as the Baughman's Department Store. In the 1980s, Ford Department Store opened there. Today, the building has two sections, with the San Benito County Esperanza Center occupying the south side and Discount Furniture on the north side.


575 San Benito Street


The commercial building that Wells Fargo occupies today was built around 1975. The notes in the National Register of Historic Places state the building "...is the district's only example of strikingly incompatible design."  Perhaps. The building is beautiful.


710 San Benito Street


The gas station at the southwest corner of San Benito and Seventh Streets has been a gas station for as long as I can remember. Several buildings has gone up on this site over the decades. The noncontributing building cited by the National Register of Historic Places is the smallest building behind the gas pumps. That's the one on the left with the sign Cheap Beer and Cigarettes. It was built in the mid-1970s.


713 San Benito Street


This quaint looking one-story building was constructed around 1920.The original architectural features that remain are the recessed panels on each end of the building.  Sears Catalog once occupied the building. Today it is the home to Metropolis.

Interestingly, this historic building sits between an empty lot (which was once a theater) and one of the newer buildings in Downtown Hollister. The original buildings were damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.


737 San Benito Street


Many old-time locals will remember this site as the home to Baywood Creamery, which had been there before 1970 when this reinforced concrete building was constructed. This "new" building is currently occupied by AJ Sushi.


801 San Benito Street


Constructed around 1960, the long section of the L-shaped historic building has always been a liquor store, while the smaller section was an office. The businesses occupying the spaces today are the Pacheco's Express Way Liquor Store and Dabo Financial Group.


To check out the other noncontributing historic buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, please click here. To check out the contributing buildings, please click here.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: Noncontributors, Part 3

Today and tomorrow, I cover the last of the noncontributing buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Even though some of these historic buildings were constructed between 1880 and 1942, they are categorized as noncontributors because their original material and/or architectural details were removed during alterations.

435 San Benito Street


This one-story commercial building was constructed around 1900. The notes in the National Register of Historic Places describe this building as having "...a gable roof masked on the front (west) elevation by a simple rectangular parapet." There must've been a remodel after the early 1990s that removed the gable roof and added the second storefront on the south side of the building.

Occupying this site today is Design Line & Granger Printing (435 San Benito Street) and New Image Salon (437 San Benito Street).


439 - 443 San Benito Street


Built around 1920, this commercial edifice originally was one storefront listed as 443 San Benito Street. In the 1940s, it was divided into two sections. Today, the building is occupied by three businesses: Su Casita Multiservicios (439 San Benito Street), Aristotle Insurance Agency (441 San Benito Street),  and Simple Mobile Solutions (443 San Benito Street).


510 and 512 San Benito Street


Here is another historic commercial building in Downtown Hollister that has been divided into two sections so it seems like separate buildings. This building was constructed around 1900. The entry way to the southern section is beautifully paved with bricks.

La Villa de Jerez Taqueria occupies the storefront at 512 San Benito Street. The one at 510 San Benito Street is vacant.


520 San Benito Street


This building was also constructed around 1900, possibly the same time as its neighbor on its north flank. A false stone siding gives it a look unique from other buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Only the Honorable Tattoos & Body Piercings occupies this site today.


526 San Benito Street


This one-story concrete-block building was constructed in the early 1950s, according to the National Register of Historic Places. But, I wonder whether that's correct. In 1947, bikers during the so-called Hollister Riot drove through Johnny's Bar & Grill, which continues to occupy the building today.


535 San Benito Street


This one-story commercial building was constructed around 1950. The architect did a great job designing it to blend in with the look of the other buildings in Downtown Hollister.  The storefront has an attached garage in the rear that opens to Briggs Alley. The Hollister Sign Company is located in the garage space, while the storefront is currently vacant.


Contributing Buildings

Over the past six weeks, I posted photos of over 40 contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. To check out those posts, please click here.


Friday, February 27, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: Noncontributors, Part 2

Today's post covers the noncontributing buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District on Fifth Street, between San Benito and Monterey Streets, and on Sixth Street.

322 Fifth Street


This three-story brick commercial building was constructed around 1985. Sometimes I think I'm looking at the side of the building rather than the face. It could be because the lot is narrow compared to the other sites on the street.


334 – 336 Fifth Street


I was surprised to learn that the Granada Theater building is not a contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District.  It's categorized as a noncontributor because many of the building's original architectural details were removed. The two-story reinforced concrete building was constructed around 1940.


345 Fifth Street


This handsome office building is formally known as the Ross Building. It was constructed around 1948. To learn a bit more about it, please click here.


225 Sixth Street


This two-story historic building is another of the more modern buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. It was constructed in the late 1970s. Today, Pierce Real Estate occupies the building.


Contributing Buildings

Over the past six weeks, I posted photos of over 40 contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. To check out those posts, please click here



Thursday, February 26, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: Noncontributors, Part 1


The vacant building at 220 Fourth Street was the former San Benito Hotel. Built in 1900, it is part of the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Unlike the two buildings that it sits between—the Masonic Lodge and the former Villa Pace Hotel, this historic building is a non-contributing building to the historic district.

The Downtown Hollister Historic District has a number of noncontributors, which means that during renovations, some of their original materials were replaced or their original design elements were lost. Over the next few days, I'll be featuring some of these historic buildings.


140 Fifth Street


Yes, this is a Quonset hut. It was built around 1946 and once was part of Bauder and Company, which occupied the site on its west side. (This picture was taken in 2012.)


202 Fifth Street


This corner building at Fifth and East Streets was constructed around 1915. Architectural details were removed from the building during a 1950s remodeling, according to the notes in the National Register of Historic Places.


206 and 208 Fifth Street


This historic noncontributor was built around 1920. It's a single-story building with two storefronts. Today, Country Groomers (206 Fifth Street) occupies the east side of the building while Koas Gallery Tattoo (208 Fifth Street) is on the west side.


221 Fifth Street


The building that was once home to Muenzer's  was constructed around 1950. Cornets occupied this site when I was a young child. Perhaps it was built for the five and dime store.


230 Fifth Street


Built in 1907, this historic edifice has none of its original facade, according to the notes in the National Register of Historic Places. By the way, have you ever been in Irma's Fashions, a women's clothing shop? It has some very cute items in there.


Contributors

Over the past six weeks, I posted photos of over 40 contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Click here to see those posts. Contributors mean that the buildings still maintain their original materials and design elements, particularly above the first floor if they are multi-story buildings. Owners of contributing buildings cannot demolish them without first meeting certain requirements.



Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 355 San Benito Street


Ta da!

Here you go, the final contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District that I'm featuring on Take 25 to Hollister: The grand, gorgeous Masonic Lodge at 355 San Benito Street!

This two-story historic building is probably the most well-known landmark of Hollister. The City of Hollister, for example, has incorporated an image of the bell tower into its logo. Completed in 1908, the building was designed by the famous California architect William H. Weeks, who also designed the old City Hall building and a few residences in Hollister.

The handsome domed cupola, the rounded bay section on the second floor, and the entry way to the corner shop on the first floor give the building a very unique look. Once upon a time, the amazing brick work of the first story was visible.

For more about this building, please click here.


By the way, I still have more to feature in the Downtown Hollister District District series. Starting tomorrow, I'll present the edifices that are categorized as non-contributing buildings in the district.  Stay tuned.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 452 San Benito Street


Today, I feature the second of the two last contributing buildings to the the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Remember, contributing buildings cannot be demolished without meeting certain requirements.

Once upon a time, the bottom floor of this beautiful historic building on the northwest corner of San Benito and Fifth Streets was occupied by Bank of America. Various offices once filled the second floor. Today, this building is now home to an event venue called The Vault, which has banquet rooms on both floors perfect for weddings, class reunions, and other special events.

Built around 1930, this two-story building has many elegant features, from the various ornamental trims at the top of the building, between the windows,  above the window and door frames on the first floor, and else where. Those golden doors are pretty cool, too.


Have any idea what the final contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District may be?  Come back tomorrow and see if you're right.

I'm hanging out at Our World Tuesday. Please click here to check out other posts by bloggers around the world.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 501 San Benito Street


The beautiful three-story slate blue building on the southeast corner of San Benito and Fifth Streets was once the Elks' Temple. Built in the early 1920s, it is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The building was designed by Shea & Shea Architects for the Elks Hollister Lodge No. 1436 for a quarter of a million dollars, according to Welcome to Historic Downtown Hollister, a walking tour pamphlet by Sharlene Van Rooy.

Who can deny the beauty of this Mediterranean Revival style building, from its projected cornice on its north and west sides to its ornate window treatments and moldings? And, the entry way on the building's south end on San Benito Street is edged with beautiful marble.

Look near the top of the building on the San Benito Street side and you can see  a clock complete with an elk's head.


I'm linking up at Blue Monday, which is hosted by Smiling Sally. Click here to check out other blue-colored interpretations by bloggers around the world.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 500 San Benito Street


The former Pendergrass Hotel is the tallest building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Constructed in 1927, this historic building has four floors—the third and fourth floors have 28 hotel rooms, the second floor has office spaces, and the first floor is set up to be a restaurant.

The Pendergrass Hotel was named for Jesse Pendergrass, the owner, who was elected as the mayor of Hollister in 1924. When the hotel was completed, it was said to have the finest furnishings available, including Beautyrest mattresses by Simmons, according to Welcome to Historic Downtown Hollister, a walking tour pamphlet by Sharlene Van Rooy.

During the 1960s and 1970s, I remember the bottom floor was home to the Bank of California. The building is currently vacant, which is available for $730,000. A bargain if you have the money, considering the potential for tourism with the Pinnacles National Park, Mission San Juan Bautista, Hollister Rally, San Benito Olive Festival, and various other events, activities, and destinations in our area.


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