Downtown Hollister Historic District: 459 San Benito Street

Five contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District are left to be featured, and these are what I consider the major landmarks in our cute downtown. The first one is the gorgeous two-story brick Italianate building on the northeast corner of San Benito and Fifth streets.

This Victorian beauty was built around 1874 by its original owner, Willam Palmtag, one of the men who founded the town of Hollister. In 1891, the building became the home of The Farmers & Merchants Bank, of which Palmtag was the president. For more information about Palmtag, please click here.

Until recently, I thought this building and the adjoining one (which houses the Mexican restaurant La Catrina) on San Benito street were all one building. But, when you look closely, you can see the different details. I think the details give the impression that this building (459 San Benito Street) is feminine while the other is masculine. What do you think?

Nothing speaks more Victorian era than bay windows. And, this building has five of them—one on its west face, three on its southern face, and one at the corner. The round and pointed arches over the doors and windows also give the building an ooh-la-la look.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 449 San Benito Street

Yesterday, you saw a building on San Benito Street that looked like it was two buildings. What do you think: Is that one or two buildings in the photo?

Two buildings, right. It wasn't obvious to me until I looked near the roof line and saw a slight gap between the two Italianate-style buildings. The folks who renovated the buildings in the 1990s did a nice job of making them seem like one.

Built in the late 1800s, both commercial edifices are contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Today, we'll focus on the site at 445 San Benito Street.

This two-story commercial building is an example of Italianate-style architecture, which was popular in the United States in the 18th century. Notice the elaborate details of the cornice with recessed panels, curved brackets, and dentil course. And, check out those bay windows. Very handsome, don't you think?

Currently, the restaurant La Catrina occupies the first floor of the building.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 738 - 750 San Benito Street

Do you think this is one building or two?

I thought it was two, too.

According to the National Register of Historic Places, this two-story commercial building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District was constructed around 1922. It actually has a flat roof. Somewhere along the line, an owner added the false-front gable roof on the "white" building.

The one detail that unifies the white and brown parts of the building is the band of tiles along its foot. Of course, you could say that the band brick tiles is the tying grace of the three buildings on this part of the 700 block of San Benito Street, between South Street and Swope Alley. Take a look: 730 San Benito Street and 756 San Benito Street.

Today, the occupants of the three storefronts in this white and brown building are:

• The Farmer's Daughters Events & Rentals and Erin Balbas Photography (738 San Benito Street)
• Swanky Finds (740 San Benito Street)
• Paradiso Spa & Salon (750 San Benito Street)

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 222 Fifth Street

The two story building at 222 Fifth Street is one of the oldest commercial structures in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Built around 1880, the top floor has been used for lodging since the beginning. At one time it was the New England Hotel. The storefront on the bottom floor houses Rowe Upholstery, which has been there for several decades.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 722 - 728 San Benito Street

I think this two-story historic commercial building in the 700 block of San Benito Street has one of the more interesting facades in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The reinforced concrete structure was built around 1915. The top floor has several apartments while the bottom floor has two separate store fronts. Currently,  I Love Hair and Nails (722 San Benito Street) occupies the north side of the building and San Benito Shoes & Wear (728 San Benito Street) is on the south side.

When you have a chance, check out all the fine details of this building in person. Notice the four bas relief urns in the blue parapet and the molding going across the parapet's top, as well as that piece going across the parapet. Also check out the fancy ornamentation that frames the windows.

The entryway to the apartments is cool, too. It reminds me of some of the brownstone buildings in San Francisco with the marble on the bottom part of the walls and the mosaic-looking entryway floor. And the trim on the entry door, ooh-la-la.

I'm linking up at Our World Tuesday. Click here to check out what bloggers from around the world are sharing at this fun meme.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 204 Fourth Street

At the northwest corner of Fourth and East Streets stands another contributing historic building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The two-story commercial structure at 204 Fourth Street is a combination hotel and restaurant. I don't think the second floor is used as a hotel anymore. On the first floor is the restaurant El Kora Moriscos.

The building was constructed in 1908. Its stepped parapet with a diamond vent on the front of the building reminds me of the queen of diamonds in Alice in Wonderland. Sometime in the 1950s, a shorter two-story addition was erected on the west side of the building.

Not visible is a one story building adjacent to the hotel/restaurant. The arched doorways that you see on the left in the photo were probably open at one time and lead to the building, which is described an an annex. Built around 1940, the annex is also a contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 800 San Benito Street

Running Rooster and Intero Real Estate Services occupy the historic commercial building at 800 San Benito Street that was once the home of Tiffany Ford. A contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, it was constructed in 1935 for Tiffany Ford, which was established in 1910. Tiffany Ford was in the downtown location until 1999 when it moved to current location on San Benito Street. Click here to see how the building looked in the late 1990s.

This one story Spanish Revival building has two L-shape sections. For many years, the building was white. It has two towers, but only the northern tower (Running Rooster's entryway) is original.  Click here to see a photo of how the tower looked when Tiffany Ford owned the building.  The southern tower (Intero's entryway) was added within the last 10 years or so, which compliments the building quite nicely.

Originally, the north section of this structure was used for car service and repair, while the south section (facing San Benito Street) contained the car showroom and offices. Notice how the windows in the photo below are set in each section of the wall. Once upon a time, windows filled the sections. Click here to see how it looked.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 829 San Benito Street

The historic building at 829 San Benito Street is the southern point of the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Built around 1929, the edifice is an example of how owners may remodel a contributing building to a historic district. For many years, this was the location for Fortino's, a furniture and appliance store, which moved to Tres Pinos Road in the late 1990s or early 2000s. The front of the building had open windows so you could see the store products as you passed from the street. I don't recall it having an arched doorway and windows nor the the tiled roof above them. The remodel was handsomely done, don't you agree?

Today, the building is home to Nino Real Estate, the Community Foundation for San Benito County, and one or more other nonprofit organizations.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 327 Fifth Street

Do you recognize this 1920s commercial building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District just from its simple, exquisite lines?

Once upon a time, it was the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Office, a travel agency office, and until recently, a gift shop of religious items. The one-story storefront located at 327 Fifth Street is currently vacant.

This contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District is a cutie, from its parapet of three sections to the tiled roof above its doorway, the patterned panel above its window, and its brick facing near the sidewalk.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 207 and 217 Fourth Street

The large one-story building at the southwest corner of Fourth and East Streets is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Some of you may know this historic building as the home to these long-time businesses: Bill's Bullpen Baseball Cards and Comics (207 Fourth Street) and San Benito Glass (217 Fourth Street).

Constructed around 1931, the building is made out of reinforced concrete. The vertical panels above the storefronts gives it kind of a woodsy look, don't you think?

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 215 and 217 Fifth Street

This darling historic building  is home to two long-time businesses: B & R Barber Shop (215 Fifth Street) and  Muenzer's Keys & Teez (217 Fifth Street). Constructed around 1914, this one-story edifice is one of the many contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 427 San Benito Street

One of my favorite commercial buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District is located at 427 San Benito Street. I like the unique look of the cornice with it raised center and corner sections and the tiled awnings and the windows of the top floor. That part of the building reminds me of Europe. Italy, perhaps. What do you think?

The two-story historic structure is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. It was constructed around 1915. The storefront on the first floor, however, was remodeled in the early 1970s.  Cheap Seats Pub & Grub put up the baseball cap awning when it opened sometime in the 2000s. The baseball cap is another thing I like about this building.

Today is Our World Tuesday, and that's where I'm hooking up. Click here to check out what bloggers from around the world are sharing at this fun meme.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 139 Fourth Street

The 1930s commercial structure at 139 Fourth Street is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places. Check how the building's roof is hidden by a high center parapet with sloping sides. I think the blue-painted belt course that goes around both the front and side of the building adds a quaintness to it.

The building has two storefronts, which are occupied by Thunder Road Motorcycles and Hollister Bait and Tackle.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 201 Fifth Street

Just in the last few years the sign for the Lido Hotel has faded to the point it's nearly difficult to read. Doesn't matter, some would say, since the Lido Hotel no longer exists. The once-upon-a-time Lido Hotel at 201 Fifth Street is now the Whiskey Creek Saloon.

The two-story building was constructed around 1918, and is a contributing building to the  Downtown Hollister Historic District.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 424 East Street

O'Keefe Engines at 424 East Street occupies a contributing historic building to
the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The building was constructed around 1940 out of concrete block.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 357 Fifth Street

This modest commercial building at 357 Fifth Street always makes me think of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I don't know why. Perhaps it's the quaint roof or  arched doorways. Or, maybe it the amazing details of the wood casings around the windows and doors. The downspouts are pretty cool, too.

Built around 1940, this structure is another contributing historic building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is part of the National Register of Historic Places. By the way, the local American Red Cross chapter occupies this location today.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 201 Sixth Street

The one-story commercial building at 201 Sixth Street is another contributing edifice to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Just like the historic building featured yesterday, this one was constructed around 1940 and has corrugated metal siding. Interestingly, the building's gable roofs are made of sheet metal.  The building has two storefronts. Cheung Sheng, a popular Chinese restaurant, occupies the east side, with its entrance beneath the red dragons. 

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 211 Fifth Street

The one-story building at 211 Fifth Street is one of the younger historic buildings in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Built around 1940, this modest building has vertical aluminum siding, which makes me think of old science fiction movies. Check out the beautiful brick facing beneath the windows.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 756 San Benito Street

The historic commercial building at the northwest corner of San Benito and South Streets has been home to various businesses throughout the years. Currently, it is home to the Country Rose Cafe. For many years, the building served as a grocery store with a butcher section.

A contributing historic building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, it was constructed in 1933 by Tony and Frank Borelli, according to Welcome to Historic Downtown Hollister, a walking tour pamphlet by Sharlene Van Rooy. The Borelli brothers designed their store to be a drive through. It was known as the Public Drive-In Market.

The photo in Ms. Van Rooy's pamphlet, showed a car entering the market on San Benito Street and another car leaving on South Street. The white recessed decorative panels that you see on the east and south faces of the building mark the entrances and exits for vehicles.

Once upon a time this decorative cut-out was an archway
for cars to enter the Public Drive-In Market on San Benito Street.

These former archways are on the south side of the building. In the photo
in Welcome to Historic Downtown Hollister, a car was leaving the market
through the archway on the left.

Today is Our World Tuesday, and that's where I'm linking up this post. Want to see what's going on in other parts of the world? Then, please click here.