Hollister, California is a real town that has been around since the 1870s. Unlike the fictional town created by a corporate clothing company, Hollister is no where near a beach. The town is about 45 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Seagulls occasionally make their way over the mountains. Hopefully, they are able to find their way back.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday in Hollister: Where are These Doors?
Here are two sets of doors. Where are they located? Where do they lead? What stories do you have about going through them, hmm?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Outstanding in Their Field: Pumpkins!
After a stop at the Phil Foster farm stand this afternoon, the husband and I headed over to San Juan Bautista via the back roads. On Prescott Road, we came across a field of glorious pumpkins out "standing" in their field. Many of them were huge!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Coming Up: Hey Lady! Want to Drive a Model A?
How would you like to drive a Ford Model A, and have a donation made on your behalf to breast cancer research?
On Saturday, October 2, Tiffany Ford will host a Breast Cancer Awareness Day at its showroom at 300 Gateway Drive in Hollister, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The event will involve participants completing a lesson to learn how to drive a Model A. This includes hands-on instruction on restored Model As. The instructors will be Vicki Wildman and other members of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America.
Every participant who completes the class will receive a driving certificate, a patch, and a Ford's "Warriors in Pink" bandanna. In addition, Tiffany Ford will make a donation to the local Hope for a Cure Memorial Educational Scholarship Fund or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The cost of the event? Only $5.00, which is a registration fee. According to Jade Sandifer, one of the event organizers, 25 Model As will be on hand. There will be a cut-off number, so if you're interested, it's best to register soon. You can call Jade at (831) 637-4461 or email her at jades @ tiffany-ford.com. For more details about the event, head over to this page at Tiffany Ford and scroll all the way to the bottom.
This event is one of several that Tiffany Ford has sponsored this year to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. The business is the oldest Ford dealership in California.
Amazing! How many of you, Take 25 readers, have purchased a car from Tiffany?
Want to know more about the organizations mentioned today?
- Tiffany Ford
- Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America
- Hope for a Cure Memorial Educational Scholarship Fund
- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Hollister, CA History: The Porter House
"Monterey and 6th. Grace Bible Church seen kitty-corner where Wells Fargo used to be," wrote Cindy at Facebook.
"Hint: sounds like the name of a large type of steak," stated Anonymous at the original post.
I was standing at the Porter House on the northwest corner of Monterey and Sixth Streets. This Queen Ann style house was built around 1880. It is no longer a residence. It has been divided into office suites and today rents out to several local business people and to the Redevelopment Agency. My favorite aspects about the house is its wrap-around front porch and the cute tower where I wouldn't mind having my office.
The "Porter" in Porter House refers to one of the first, if not original, residents of the house, Dr. George and Olive Pond Porter. Dr. Porter immigrated from England in 1873, eventually settling in Hollister in the 1880s. A druggist, Dr. Porter and brother-in-law Hiram Pond were co-owners of a drugstore in town. Porter went back to school to earn his medical degree and obtained his medical license in 1890. He returned to Hollister and more than likely practiced medicine. Dr. Porter died in 1905. Here's a link to his obituary. Mrs. Porter continued to reside at Monterey & 6th until her death in 1938.
Here are some interesting notes about Mrs. Porter's life, which I found at the San Benito County Historical Museum. She was born Olive Pond in April 1860 in Placer County. She was well-educated, having attended the Napa Collegiate Institute, the College of Pharmacy in San Francisco, and the Women's College of Medicine in Philadelphia. The notes did not mention if she graduated from the last two schools. She and Dr. Porter married in 1881.
How the Porters came to settle in Hollister is unknown. Did they come first or Olive's brother Hiram? While her husband was at medical school, Mrs. Porter took care of the business. According to the family notes, Olive was the owner of a 500 acre ranch on Cienega Road. She was also a past Noble Grand Matron of the Rebeka Lodge in Hollister.
There you go. Now you know a bit of who the Porters were at Sixth and Monterey a long time ago.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Coming Up: A Free Pajama-Rama Party Story Time
You're in luck. Professional Storyteller Julie Engelhardt will be presenting another Story Time this Saturday evening, starting at 7 p.m.
The theme: Pajama-Rama Party Story Time!
She invites all you kids—big and small—to come to the event dressed in your favorite PJ's. You can bring your blanky and/or pillow, too.
The event is free! You can't beat that.
Story Time will take place at Mars Hill Coffeehouse on the corner of San Benito Street and 6th Street. During the event, says Scott at Mars Hill, the coffeehouse will be offering customers a 10 percent discount.
For more details about the event, call (831) 245-8463.
For more about Julie and Mars Hill, check out these links:
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