A Victorian Beauty in Downtown Hollister

Your vision is okay.

I took the photo through the dirty car window as the husband was driving south on San Benito Street. Even through a dirty window, the red brick Victorian building looks gorgeous.

The building was constructed in the 1870s. I think it was in the late 1980s or early 1990s that it was restored. William Palmtag, one of the founders of Hollister, was the original owner. In 1891, the Farmers and Merchants Bank was based in the building. Supposedly, the vaults are still there.

Mr. Palmtag was an interesting man who hailed from Germany. In his time, he was known as an astute businessman and an award winning winemaker. He also served as a county supervisor and the mayor of Hollister.  Check out these links for more details about him.

• William Palmtag Biography
•  "A Pioneer of the Local Wine Industry", Gilroy Dispatch