Downtown Hollister Historic District: 222 Fifth Street

The two story building at 222 Fifth Street is one of the oldest commercial structures in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Built around 1880, the top floor has been used for lodging since the beginning. At one time it was the New England Hotel. The storefront on the bottom floor houses Rowe Upholstery, which has been there for several decades.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 722 - 728 San Benito Street

I think this two-story historic commercial building in the 700 block of San Benito Street has one of the more interesting facades in the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The reinforced concrete structure was built around 1915. The top floor has several apartments while the bottom floor has two separate store fronts. Currently,  I Love Hair and Nails (722 San Benito Street) occupies the north side of the building and San Benito Shoes & Wear (728 San Benito Street) is on the south side.

When you have a chance, check out all the fine details of this building in person. Notice the four bas relief urns in the blue parapet and the molding going across the parapet's top, as well as that piece going across the parapet. Also check out the fancy ornamentation that frames the windows.

The entryway to the apartments is cool, too. It reminds me of some of the brownstone buildings in San Francisco with the marble on the bottom part of the walls and the mosaic-looking entryway floor. And the trim on the entry door, ooh-la-la.

I'm linking up at Our World Tuesday. Click here to check out what bloggers from around the world are sharing at this fun meme.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 204 Fourth Street

At the northwest corner of Fourth and East Streets stands another contributing historic building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. The two-story commercial structure at 204 Fourth Street is a combination hotel and restaurant. I don't think the second floor is used as a hotel anymore. On the first floor is the restaurant El Kora Moriscos.

The building was constructed in 1908. Its stepped parapet with a diamond vent on the front of the building reminds me of the queen of diamonds in Alice in Wonderland. Sometime in the 1950s, a shorter two-story addition was erected on the west side of the building.

Not visible is a one story building adjacent to the hotel/restaurant. The arched doorways that you see on the left in the photo were probably open at one time and lead to the building, which is described an an annex. Built around 1940, the annex is also a contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 800 San Benito Street

Running Rooster and Intero Real Estate Services occupy the historic commercial building at 800 San Benito Street that was once the home of Tiffany Ford. A contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District, it was constructed in 1935 for Tiffany Ford, which was established in 1910. Tiffany Ford was in the downtown location until 1999 when it moved to current location on San Benito Street. Click here to see how the building looked in the late 1990s.

This one story Spanish Revival building has two L-shape sections. For many years, the building was white. It has two towers, but only the northern tower (Running Rooster's entryway) is original.  Click here to see a photo of how the tower looked when Tiffany Ford owned the building.  The southern tower (Intero's entryway) was added within the last 10 years or so, which compliments the building quite nicely.

Originally, the north section of this structure was used for car service and repair, while the south section (facing San Benito Street) contained the car showroom and offices. Notice how the windows in the photo below are set in each section of the wall. Once upon a time, windows filled the sections. Click here to see how it looked.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 829 San Benito Street

The historic building at 829 San Benito Street is the southern point of the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Built around 1929, the edifice is an example of how owners may remodel a contributing building to a historic district. For many years, this was the location for Fortino's, a furniture and appliance store, which moved to Tres Pinos Road in the late 1990s or early 2000s. The front of the building had open windows so you could see the store products as you passed from the street. I don't recall it having an arched doorway and windows nor the the tiled roof above them. The remodel was handsomely done, don't you agree?

Today, the building is home to Nino Real Estate, the Community Foundation for San Benito County, and one or more other nonprofit organizations.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 327 Fifth Street

Do you recognize this 1920s commercial building in the Downtown Hollister Historic District just from its simple, exquisite lines?

Once upon a time, it was the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Office, a travel agency office, and until recently, a gift shop of religious items. The one-story storefront located at 327 Fifth Street is currently vacant.

This contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District is a cutie, from its parapet of three sections to the tiled roof above its doorway, the patterned panel above its window, and its brick facing near the sidewalk.

Downtown Hollister Historic District: 207 and 217 Fourth Street

The large one-story building at the southwest corner of Fourth and East Streets is another contributing building to the Downtown Hollister Historic District. Some of you may know this historic building as the home to these long-time businesses: Bill's Bullpen Baseball Cards and Comics (207 Fourth Street) and San Benito Glass (217 Fourth Street).

Constructed around 1931, the building is made out of reinforced concrete. The vertical panels above the storefronts gives it kind of a woodsy look, don't you think?