Showing posts with label DHHD-contributors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DHHD-contributors. Show all posts

Friday, February 6, 2015

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.



Thursday, February 5, 2015

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. 


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

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.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

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.


Monday, February 2, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 214,216, and 218 Fifth Street


This historic two-story commercial building on Fifth Street was constructed around 1923. It is also a contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places. Apartments are on the second floor, while Salon 218 and another hair salon occupy the first floor. The two shops are separated by an arched entry way to the top floor.

The building has some enchanting old-fashioned features, including the tiled cornice and the arched doorway. The shop on the right (214 Fifth Street) looks to have maintained much of its 1920s design. It still has a transom above the doorway. According to the National Register, the shop of the left (218 Fifth Street) was remodeled in the 1980s.


Being that this building has gorgeous blue accents, I've hitched my wagon today to Blue Monday,  hosted by Smiling Sally.  Come check out other participants with me by clicking here.



Sunday, February 1, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 730 San Benito Street


Felice Forno, the new popular pizza joint in Hollister, is located at 730 San Benito Street, which originally was the building of the Hollister Free Lance.  The  structure is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District.

According to the National Register of Historic Place, it was constructed around 1907. You can still find signs of the Hollister Free Lance on the face of the building. Near the edge of each side is a handsome tile of a knight known as a free lance, who was willing to work for anyone who paid him. By the way, check out what mythical animal the free lance is spearing.


Interestingly, from the front, the  building looks like it is two stories. Yet, when you look from the side or the back of the building, you can see that the top is a fake facade. Is it really a two-story building? Do those windows on the "second floor" open? Maybe someone else can tell us.





Saturday, January 31, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 759 San Benito Street


The old gas station at the northeast corner of San Benito and South Streets was built around 1936. It is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which means it cannot be demolished without first meeting certain measures.

The National Register of Historic Places cites the one-story building as having a typical design of gas stations of the 1930s. The windowed office is on the right, while two auto service bays are on the left. Still standing is the flat-roofed carport that once protected gas pumps.

I remember this was an ARCO station in the 1970s. Today, Hollister Mufflers makes its home there.
 


Friday, January 30, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 625 San Benito Street


Recognize the decorative cornice and those interesting urn-looking things on this building? Where do think this commercial building is on the main street in Hollister?

It's the two-story commercial edifice at 625 San Benito Street, next to the Veterans Memorial Building.  The DeLux Salon is on the ground floor. Surprised? It was constructed around 1908 and is one of the contributing buildings to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. From the front, it looks like a small building. But, just peek around the corner, and you'll see that it is a relatively good-size building.

The next time you go by 625 San Benito Street, check out its two bay windows. One is above the salon, while the other is on the side of the building.




Thursday, January 29, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 335 Sixth Street


This cute little brown house is another contributing historic building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Located at 335 Sixth Street, just behind the Grangers Union Building, the one-bedroom, one-bath house was built around 1923. It was originally an office building.



Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 549 San Benito Street


The commercial building for sale at 549 San Benito Street is another contributing historic building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The reinforced concrete edifice was built around 1940, according to the National Register of Historic Places. 

It's a one-story building with a mezzanine. Some of the neat features of this building is the decorative molding on the top of the building, the transom above the front door, and the flat, wooden awning.


It's been over a year since Penny Wise Drug closed its doors. Whose else misses Joan, Jeannie, and Stephen? The drugstore was at 549 San Benito Street for many years. I don't recall when they moved there, but during the 1950s and 60s, Rasco, a five-and-dime store, occupied the space. Anyone else remember the instant aroma of freshly popped popcorn as you walked into Rasco, whether through the front or back door?


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: The Veterans Memorial Building


The Veterans Memorial Building, at 649 San Benito Street, is a local landmark. It is also another contributing building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District.  This handsome two-story building was dedicated on November 11, 1927, nine years after the Armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies to end World War I. Over the years, the Veterans Memorial Building has been used for various governmental, community, and private events, from town hall meetings to public concerts and private weddings and birthday parties.

Made of reinforced concrete, the Veterans Memorial Building is divided into three bays, with the center bay being twice the size of the side bays. The porch, or portico, of the center bay, is supported by two side piers and four eight-sided columns. Several gorgeous rounded windows and three arched entrances are protected by the portico's roof.


Jane McClosky Wapple was the person behind getting the building constructed. In 1923, she proposed the idea of establishing a building to honor the military members of San Benito County who died in World War I. To raise construction funds, Mrs. Wapple and her friends held a horse show at Bolado Park, which brought in $14,000. By the way, that horse show, which she called the Spanish Fiesta, became the start of the annual San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Parade.

Mrs. Wapple was a very interesting person in Hollister history. If you'd like to learn a little more about her, check out this article, "Sweet Jane Wapple," written by Martin Cheek in the Gilroy Dispatch.

Today is Our World Tuesday. Click here to check out what's going on in other parts of the world.



Monday, January 26, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: The Kearney Building


The Downtown Hollister Historic District series continues today with a look at the Kearney Building on Fifth Street. This two-story commercial structure is another contributing building in the historic district, which means that it cannot be demolished unless it meets certain measures.

The Kearney Building was constructed around 1929 and still has many of its original decorative features intact, including the beautiful banded tile at the bottom of the building.  Between the windows is a plaque that looks like a crest. Could it be Kearney's crest?


This is one of the few buildings in town that actually has a plaque of its name on it, which is next to the central doorway. Every time I pass by it, I wonder who Kearney was. Anyone know?

Today is Blue Monday,  hosted by Smiling Sally, and that's where I shall be. Come join me by clicking here.


Sunday, January 25, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 401 San Benito Street


Today, the two-story commercial building at the southeast corner of San Benito and Fourth Street is a church. Originally, the building at 401 San Benito Street was a grocery store. It was built in 1907 to replace the first building destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake. It is a contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which means that the owners cannot demolish it until certain measures are met. The storefront was remodeled for a modern look in the 1970s.

This historic building is one-of-a-kind in Downtown Hollister. It has two square corners, which remind me of castles. The fancy parapet at top of the roof has a cheerful curved middle section, which makes me think of the Three Musketeers.  And, the balcony on the second floor, well, that brings Romeo and Juliet to mind.

By the way, that balcony is a copy of the original one that had gone missing at one point in time. The copy was made from original timbers, according to Welcome to Historic Downtown Hollister, a walking tour pamphlet by Sharlene Van Rooy.


I'm hooking up at Sundays in My City, hosted by the Unknown Mami. Come check out posts of other cities around the world by clicking here.



Saturday, January 24, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 417 San Benito Street


The one-story commercial building at 417 San Benito Street is another example of 1880 architecture in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The storefront, though, may have been remodeled after the 1906 Earthquake. Today, it's home to Silvia's Jewelry and Gifts.


Ever noticed this decorative detail near the top of the building? Beautiful, isn't it? It's described as a diamond-shaped false vent. The beads, I'm guessing, are to simulate vent grilles. The vent makes me think of Tales from the Arabian Nights.


Actually the whole top of the building makes me think of The Tales of One Thousand and One Nights. I like the way the parapet slopes downs from its center on either side and then slightly travels back up. I also like that sloping cornice with a fluted look and that fancy dentil below it.  I wonder what the building looked like before the storefront was remodeled.



Friday, January 23, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: The Grangers Union Building


The two-story commercial building that takes up half the block on the west side of San Benito Street between Sixth Street and Brown Alley is called the Grangers Union Building. This historic contributing building in the  Downtown Hollister Historic District was built in 1917. A general merchandise store incorporated in 1890, the Grangers Union had two previous buildings at the site. The 1906 Earthquake destroyed the first building, while a fire took the second building. 

Glance up at the top of the building to see the beautiful detail of the cornice that goes around its front and side. The entry way to She's, which used to be Ladd's Hardware, is my favorite aspect about the building. As a kid, I always thought the support column was a sign of times past and when I went through the doorway, I felt like I was stepping into another world. I still do.


Today, the Grangers Union Building is home to:
 

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 411 San Benito Street


Aren't the details of this building amazing?

This is the top of the historic commercial building at 411 San Benito Street. It's another contributing building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District, which is in the National Register of Historic Places. (Contributing buildings cannot be torn down without following certain measures.)

The building was constructed in 1907, after the original one on the site was destroyed by the 1906 Earthquake.  In the 1960s, either this storefront or the one to its right had a display of Buster Brown shoes. I always wanted a pair.




Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 419 San Benito Street


The commercial building at 419 San Benito Street is one of the oldest contributing structures in the the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The single-story structure was built around 1880. The National Register of Historic Places notes that the parapet (the green protective wall along the roof's edge) may have been remodeled after the 1906 earthquake. It also notes that the storefront, with several windows in different shapes, was changed in the mid-1970s.

The last business that I recall being in the vacant building was the Acme Club. For many decades, the tavern was a place for many locals to unwind with a drink and a game of poker.  In 1929, it was the Fremont Cafe, according to an advertisement I found online in both the Santa Cruz Evening News and the San Jose News. The ad said:
When in Hollister,
Be it for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
Stop at FREMONT CAFE
419 San Benito Street
BOOTHS FOR LADIES



Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Downtown Hollister Historic District: The Old and Current City Hall Buildings


On the south side of Fifth Street, between San Benito and Monterey Streets, are the old and current City Hall buildings, which are both contributing historic structures in the Downtown Hollister Historic District.

339 Fifth Street — The Old City Hall



The Hollister City Hall was originally located at 339 Fifth Street. The first building was destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake. Two years later, the new beautiful two-story City Hall, designed by William H. Weeks, was completed. The west side of the building housed the Hollister Fire Department.

The building has many interesting decorative features. Click here to see a close-up of one of the figurines—brackets—at the top of the building. Once upon a time, the Old City Hall had a cupola. Click here to see vintage postcards of how the building looked over 100 years ago.

Today, the City of Hollister uses the first floor of this building for its utility payment center and offices for its building and planning divisions.

375 Fifth Street — The Current City Hall



Some of you may recognize the Classical Revival style of the current City Hall as being a design of many Carnegie Libraries. You're right. The current City Hall was once the city library. In 1910, the City of Hollister received a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Library Foundation to build the one-story reinforced concrete building. Completed in 1912, the building was designed by William Binder and constructed by E. J. Sparling. In the 1980s, the City built an addition at the rear for the City Council chambers.

There are so many wonderful elements to this building, such as the Ionic columns that flank the entry way and the fine details of the cornice across the top of the building. What impresses me the most is that the concrete was scored to look like granite blocks.

The Hollister Carnegie Library is entered in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Downtown Hollister Historic District as well as individually. Want to see what the library looked like back in the day? Then, click here.

Today is Our World Tuesday, and that's where I am linking up. Click here to check out what's going on in other parts of the world.


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