Postcards of the Old City Hall

First, everyone, please say a big "Thank you!" to Cindy Mackie. She sent me copies of these vintage postcards of the old City Hall, which many of you today may know as the vacant YMCA building that's located on Fifth Street.

Cindy wrote: "The postcard on one of the old City Hall dates the card to April 19, 1912. I think you could safely say that that building is at least 100 years old. The publisher is Edward H. Mitchell of San Francisco."

Okay, I won't detain you anymore. Check out the trio of postcards from Cindy.  Thank you very much, Cindy.

Postcard image courtesy of Cindy Mackie.

Postcard image courtesy of Cindy Mackie.

Postcard image courtesy of Cindy Mackie.

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

A Different View on Fifth Street

I'm short; the husband is tall. So, why is that important?

The other day, we got out of our car on Fifth Street and right away the husband suggested that I take a shot of the line of bay windows of the brick building. You know the one that's on the corner of San Benito Street and Fifth Streets.  So, I did. I took several snaps. But, my results were duds. That's when I realized if I was just a foot taller, I'd have a bunch of lovely photos of what the husband was viewing. Maybe I should carry a ladder around with me.

Anyway, being short, I did see an angle of this lamp post on Fifth Street that I liked.

Veronica's Art of Dance

The sign in the window of Veronica's Art of Dance was just too cute to not take a photo of it. Veronica's is another new business that recently opened downtown. The dance studio is located at 750 San Benito Street. According to the business's Web site, Hollister is its second location. Its first is in San Jose.

Another Face Up High

I can't help it. Too many long hours working makes a person loopy and, in my case, seeing faces in buildings. Do you think this is what's meant by the face of a building?

This is the building on Fifth and San Benito Streets that "shouts" Mitchell Law Firm from the side facing San Benito Street. I think this building was once home to the Elks Lodge. Doesn't that look like an Elk's head above the middle window? It makes for a good nose to the face.