The Cross on Pagan Hill

Many years ago, when I was in third grade at Pacheco School, one of our assignments was to draw the landmarks in San Benito County. One was a cross on a hill, which I drew not paying attention to what Mrs. Apsley said it was all about and where it was. For many years I thought the cross was some where on Pacheco Pass. Even though I now know the landmark refers to the cross on top of Pagan Hill above San Juan Bautista, I still find myself scanning the mountains for a cross whenever I drive up Highway 156. Perhaps there is one up on Lover's Leap.

So, what about the cross? Pagan Hill, also known as Mount Holy Cross, was a sacred place for the Mutsun tribe. When the missionaries found that the natives went up to the spot to do their own religious practice, they, the friars, decided to erect a wooden cross as a way to convert the Mutsuns to Catholicism. This was around 1803. A farmer took down the cross about 50 years later. Flash forward about another 50 years when someone or some group put up at wooden cross in the same spot. In 1929, that was replaced with the concrete cross that we see today.

My Sources:
Mission San Juan Bautista by Historic American Landscapes Survey, National Park Service
California: A Guide to the Golden Golden State by Federal Writers' Project

A Bit of History at 401 San Benito Street

The past few evenings I have been enjoying Hollister by Joseph M. McMahon and Peter Sonné, which is part the Images of America series published by Arcadia Publishing. Have you read it yet? It's a wonderful introduction to the history of our area.

One of the things I learned is that the building on the southeast corner of San Benito and 4th Streets originally was a  business called the Hollister Rochdale Company. Then I pulled out The Historic Downtown Walking Tour booklet by Sharlene Van Rooy to find out that Rochdale was a grocery store and it collapsed during the 1906 Earthquake. The following year, a new building was constructed. Yup. That 106 year-old building is now the home of New Life Fellowship.

Note: So that FCC won't get on my case, the above link leads you to Amazon.com. And, if you happen to purchase Hollister via that link (or this link), I get a bit of change for my effort of referring you to the page. 

Everyday Rock and Roll

That sudden turn in the sidewalk and wall on 6th Street
in Hollister is due to the Calaveras Fault.

Last week (or was it this week?), we felt a couple of good grumbles in the earth, measuring in the low 3's on the Richter scale. That's nothing when you're used to it. Nerve-wracking, if you're not. But, it is to expected when you live in Hollister. . .or Tres Pinos. . .or San Juan Bautista. . . or anywhere in San Benito County.

Yup.  We have two major earthquake faults cutting through the county. The Calaveras Fault runs right through downtown Hollister, while the San Andreas Fault circumvents Hollister to the southeast and winds itself through San Juan Bautista just below the mission.

Earthquakes happen nearly everyday in our county. Mostly micro ones, which is good, as they release much needed tension. Just like burps.

Eat Locally: The Inn at Tres Pinos

The Husband and I had no idea what we had been missing when we stepped into the Inn at Tres Pinos last month for dinner. Everything about the restaurant was quite delightful. The setting was intimate and comfortable, the servers were friendly and efficient, and the food and drink were heavenly.

Built in 1880, The Inn at Tres Pinos is a Historical Landmark. Once upon a time, it was a brothel, but that isn't the sole reason for having achieved landmark status.  Check out this web page for more history about the place and Tres Pinos. 

A Sunrise in Hollister

Earlier this month, I hung outside watching the sunrise. I'd forgotten how grand it is to wake up, rather than go to bed, before the sun lights up the sky.