Showing posts with label alleys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alleys. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A Happy Palm Tree


Isn't that a gorgeous palm tree? It's huge, too. Quite huge. The Husband and I came across it as we were walking through Briggs Alley the other day. I like how it happily waves over the fences.

See you tomorrow.


Saturday, July 11, 2015

Looking Down Swope Alley


Swope Alley is a unique street in Downtown Hollister. Between West and San Benito Streets, the alley runs east to west (or west to east depending on your point of view). Nothing strange about that.

But, on the other side of of San Benito Street, Swope Alley runs behind the storefronts. It goes from north to south (or south to north) between Seventh and South Streets. That's what you're seeing in the photo.

Interesting, huh? I wonder what the story is about Swope Alley

Saturday, June 13, 2015

The Mural Behind the Sports Posters


The next time you sit on the patio at the Third Base Burger Bar on San Benito Street, check out the mural on the wall behind the sports posters. This beautiful mural, titled Fruited Plains, was painted seven years ago by art students at Gavilan College under the direction of Dr. Arturo Rosette. To read more about the mural, as well as see additional photos of it, please click here.

The Fruited Plains mural in Brown Alley.


Saturday, March 14, 2015

Walking Through Wentz Alley

As some of you dear readers know, I like to walk with the Husband through the alleys of Hollister. In some alleys, we get a sense of a time gone by. In the alleys in the Downtown Hollister Historical District, we see perspectives and angles of the buildings that are rather interesting and exciting. So, today, I'm sharing a few sights that we recently saw in Wentz Alley, between Monterey and San Benito Streets.

The Original Sanctuary


The Hollister United Methodist Church started as the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1862. Ten years later, the church constructed its first building, a wooden structure, on the corner of Fifth and Monterey Streets. When the brick building was raised in 1910, the wooden structure became the church's social hall, which is visible from Wentz Alley.

Industrial Doors


Quickly take a look at these historic buildings on Fifth Street. At which building do you think you would find these handsome heavy industrial doors on its backside? Go ahead, I'll wait.

Did you choose the Ross Building (345 Fifth Street)? The building looks so delicate and petite to have these doors, but yet that's where you'll see them. The original owner configured the office building so that it could easily be turned into a supermarket if, at anytime he, or a future buyer, wanted to do so.

Lines


I like this alley view of Downtown Hollister from behind Johnny's Bar and Grill. It's an interesting intersection of lines of the various buildings, don't you think?


Friday, November 7, 2014

Another Time and Place


The Husband and I both agree that stepping into some alleys in Hollister is like going to another time and place. This is Briggs Alley, between Powell and West streets. Take out that modern lamp post, the covered car, and the electric wires from the scene; voila, early 20th century, perhaps.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Sacred Heart Church Steeple


This view of the Sacred Heart Church steeple is from Briggs Alley (near Line Street). I wonder if the church still rings the bells. Anyone know?


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

A Measure of Distance


On our way to the Burger Factory, the Husband's and my favorite mom-and-pop hamburger joint in Hollister, we drive by Furlong Alley. It's one of several one-block alleys in the downtown area. Furlong is hidden between San Benito and East Streets, running parallel with Second Street.

Until recently, whenever I saw the sign for Furlong Alley, I'd wonder what used to be there for the Navy guys who were stationed at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station during the 1940s. Was it a bar at which they hung out when they were in town? I asked the Husband if he thought that was the case. His answer: "You're thinking of furlough. Furlong is a measure of distance."

Oh.

Furlong is one-eighth of a mile. 220 yards. I wonder why someone decided to name that stretch of road Furlong Alley? Could it be that once upon-a-time drivers needed that much of a running start to get their cars up Hill Street to Vista Park Hill, the highest point (about 380 feet high) in Downtown Hollister.

Today is all about the letter M at Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday. That's where I'm hanging out. Come join me by clicking here.

Furlong Alley ends at San Benito Street.
Cross the street and you climb up Hill Street.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Post 999: Alleys of Hollister


I have yet to find an alley in Hollister that dead ends at a brick wall on all sides. You know, like in the movies. Nor, for that matter, an alley with a tumble down or rickety fence to climb up and over to run away from the "bad guys".

As some of you, dear readers, know, the Husband and I like sidetracking through an alley when we suddenly come upon one whether walking, bicycling, or driving. There are 18 alleys, according to the Google map of downtown Hollister. For past posts about some alleys, check out this link: Alleys.

Monday, June 9, 2014

The Colorful Brown Alley


Batman's Gotham City has dark dead-end alleys. Not our town, thank goodness. For instance, on Brown Alley, towards the Monterey Street end, you can see this gorgeous blast of color smiling at you.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

 
There's something kind of beautifully poignant about back alleys. This is Wentz Alley, looking from East Street.



Friday, March 28, 2014

Ann Street


Does anyone know why Ann Street interrupts the flow of Briggs Alley?

Ann Street runs parallel to Fourth Street. It starts at West Street and ends at Winn Alley. It's less than half-a-block long. On the other side of Winn Alley is a parking lot. Directly across from Ann Street (at West Street) is Briggs Alley. This alley continues on the east side of Monterey Street.

I can't remember if someone told me or if I read that Ann Street was named for William Welles Hollister's wife. Anyone know for sure? And, for those who've forgotten or didn't know, Hollister was for whom our city was named, and the Hollisters lived where the court house stands today.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The Short Long Alley


How short is Long Alley?

It's half a block long!

It starts (or ends) at College Street and ends (or starts) at McClure Alley.

Still don't have a clue where Long Alley is? You know where the SDES Hall, aka Portuguese Hall, is on 7th Street. Long Alley runs behind it.

The Husband and I wouldn't have known about this possibly shortest alley in town, if it weren't for taking a walk. 


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Grubb Alley


Show of hands: Who knows where Grubb Alley is in downtown Hollister? Hmmmm.

That's where this fellow (the Husband) is standing? U-hem.



Tuesday, November 8, 2011

100 Things I Like: The Alleys of Hollister


The husband and I like walking or pedaling our bikes through the alleys of Hollister.  Wentz Alley is probably the most familiar of all the alleys in downtown Hollister. What? Can't place it. That's the alley where the biker mural is painted on the side of Johnny's Bar.

Main, Elmore, Furlong, Hodges, Canal, Convent, Long, Swope, Grubb, and Smith Alleys are a few of the other alleys in town. Try to find them, why don't you?

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.




Saturday, October 1, 2011

100 Things I Like: Looking Up!

Looking up in Wentz Alley!

Being short has its advantage. For instance, as I'm craning my head to look up at someone as he or she speaks, other things come into sight. Things I might not ever notice. I tell you, there are quite a lot of neat things to see when you look up in Hollister.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

A Three-Door Door


Beauty and innovation is in the eye of the beholder. Isn't that how some saying goes? Well, this edifice might cause some to shudder. Not me. There's just something rather cool about it. I like how the builder managed to get practical use out of leftover doors. I wish I could remember which alley I saw this in.





Saturday, July 16, 2011

From Wentz We Came


The husband and I like walking or pedaling our bicycles through the alleys of Hollister. Don't know why. This is looking west on Wentz Alley at Monterey Street.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Man in the Tree

May 16 to May 22 Theme: The Little Details in Downtown Hollister


Next time you park in the lot on Sixth and East Street, take a look at the tree across Wentz Alley. There's a figure hanging out in the tree. Do you see it?


Monday, May 16, 2011

The Alleys of Hollister: Swope Alley

I feel like doing another theme. So, for the next seven days: The Little Details in Downtown Hollister.



Does it look like a little building up on a ledge to you?

You'll find this little detail on the building at the corner of Swope Alley and San Benito Street.

Ahem. Today is day 115 for posting a photo consecutively on Take 25 to Hollister. Uh-huh. Those of you who have been following Take 25 via Facebook know that I'm attempting to post a daily photo for a year. As for the rest of you, dear readers, well, now you know. I have no reason for doing so other than because I can.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Back Alleys of Hollister: Wentz Alley


This is the backside of the building that was once upon a time the Lido Hotel. Hollister used to have quite a lot of hotels downtown. Today, there are only a handful.

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