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.

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.

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.

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.