By Sean Fisher
Special to the Pinnacle
The Garcia House at the San Benito Historical Park is one step
closer to completion thanks to the Boy Scout Eagle project of
Tristan Russell.
Russell, a 14-year-old Boy Scout from troop 777 in Hollister,
recently completed his Eagle project, which consisted of building
two decks for the Garcia House at the San Benito County Historical
Park in Tres Pinos. The Garcia House, originally built by Joseph
Rodrigues Garcia in the early 1900s, was moved from its location on
Airline Highway in October 2000 to the Historical Park to make room
for a new office structure for the Sunnyslope Water District. It is
slowly being renovated and will become the caretaker’s quarters and
a visitor’s center for the park when it is completed.
By Sean Fisher
Special to the Pinnacle
The Garcia House at the San Benito Historical Park is one step closer to completion thanks to the Boy Scout Eagle project of Tristan Russell.
Russell, a 14-year-old Boy Scout from troop 777 in Hollister, recently completed his Eagle project, which consisted of building two decks for the Garcia House at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. The Garcia House, originally built by Joseph Rodrigues Garcia in the early 1900s, was moved from its location on Airline Highway in October 2000 to the Historical Park to make room for a new office structure for the Sunnyslope Water District. It is slowly being renovated and will become the caretaker’s quarters and a visitor’s center for the park when it is completed.
The Eagle project consisted of using scrap wood from the old dance hall, which was destroyed by a storm in 2006, to build decks for two entrances to the Garcia House. Tristan began his project in March and used the help of some of the more than 100 volunteers who were there on May 8 as part of “Mormon Helping Hands,” an event sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to provide community service across the state. The church is the Charter Organization supporting Russell’s Boy Scout Troop.
Russell’s project was the final step needed for him to complete the requirements for Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. He will soon complete his application and hopes to become an Eagle like his older brother and his father, both of whom received their Eagle Scout awards when they were 14 years old.
While the project helped move things forward for the park, there is much more to be done, and the park relies heavily on volunteers. Don Pidd, the caretaker for the Historical Park, said he hoped to have the Garcia house completed before Civil War Days, which will he held Sept. 17-19. Volunteers are welcome to contact him 902-9349 or at do*****@sv*.net.
