100 Things I Like: The Ross Building

The Ross Building is such an anomaly among the other historic buildings on the Fifth Street block between San Benito and Monterey Streets. There it stands confidently oblongish, low, and "soft" among the straight and sharp angles of the much older and taller buildings. The Ross Building makes me think of space aliens and ice cream. Not both at the same time, of course. That would be weird.

At the back of the building is a freight elevator. Obviously, it doesn't go up, unless it's a portal to another dimension. See, space aliens. If only. According to what I've been told, the original owner designed the structure so that it could be converted into  a supermarket or a warehouse in case it failed as an office building. Hmmm, that's a lot of ice cream one could haul to the basement.

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

Looking Up: What Do You Think You're Looking At?

Here's another not-so-common view of a building we so frequently see when we wander in historical downtown Hollister.  If you're a local, I know you recognize it.

Today's post is Day 316 of my personal challenge to post everyday for a year. I don't know about you, but I'm impressed.

100 Things I Like: Signs

This sign just makes me wonder if anyone does park their car downtown, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., on Sundays. But, not so much that I need to actually go and find out.

Here are a few other signs that have made me think of the absurd:  Sign 1, Sign 2, Sign 3, and one more.

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

100 Things I Like: 5th & San Benito Streets

Represented here is architectural design from late 1800s,
1930s, and 1990s (the Briggs Building behind the Vault).

On the four corners of Fifth and San Benito Streets stand some of the oldest and tallest buildings in Hollister.

• The Vault is located on the NW corner. Built in 1931, it was originally the Bank of America. Lots of Art Deco going on with that building, both in and out. 
• The Italianate building on the NE corner went up around 1874. Its first owner was William Palmtag, one of the founders of Hollister.
• The old Elks Lodge building stands on the SE corner.
• Standing empty, the old Pendergrass building is on the SW corner. A once-upon-a-time hotel and office building, its construction was completed in 1927. The building was owned  by Jesse Pendergrass, a Hollister mayor.

Much of this information came from Welcome to Historic Downtown Hollister, a walking tour brochure, which I obtained from the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce. The brochure was put together by Sharlene Van Rooy.

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

100 Things I Like: The Old Elks Lodge Building

The old Elks Lodge building on the southeast corner of San Benito and Fifth Streets is an absolute beauty. The folks who remodeled it several years ago did a great job bringing out the details. Look at those golden decorative pieces under the eaves, which glow even more with the reflection of the setting sun. And, how about that slim ornamental column embedded in the corner of the building.

One of these days, I'll find out the five W's about the building, such as: Who designed it? When was it built? What materials were used? How long did it take to build? Where did the Elks actually meet in the building? Why did they decide to leave it?

Based on the little that I've seen of the inside, I'd say beauty is more than skin deep with this building.

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