When 82-year-old Gene O’Neill travels Hollister streets, he
doesn’t just see houses or buildings. He doesn’t just see
cemeteries or railroad yards. He sees, and appreciates, the
multitude of history.
However, in recent years, because of the county’s growth,
Hollister has lost much of its
”
historic luster,
”
said O’Neill, who has lived in Hollister his entire life.
Meaningful buildings
”
have been burned,
”
including majestic theaters and hotels. Also, the loss of local
architectural history is disturbing to the man who, as a boy, would
watch trains travel past the old depot.
When 82-year-old Gene O’Neill travels Hollister streets, he doesn’t just see houses or buildings. He doesn’t just see cemeteries or railroad yards. He sees, and appreciates, the multitude of history.
However, in recent years, because of the county’s growth, Hollister has lost much of its “historic luster,” said O’Neill, who has lived in Hollister his entire life. Meaningful buildings “have been burned,” including majestic theaters and hotels. Also, the loss of local architectural history is disturbing to the man who, as a boy, would watch trains travel past the old depot.
Now, in a potential effort to maintain the city’s architectural history – and educate new residents about the city’s rich past – three local organizations have discussed the possibility of forming a historic preservation committee.
Representatives of the county Chamber of Commerce and Hollister Downtown Association spoke at the San Benito County Historical Society’s recent meeting and expressed interest in forming a partnership for a preservation committee, and the historical society supported the idea, President Peter Sonne said.
“We thought it would be a great idea,” Sonne said. “It would be a great marriage for the historical society and the other two entities.”
Sonne said the idea is just in the beginning stages, as chamber and HDA members will continue to discuss the matter.
However, a preservation committee would benefit the community because “we need to keep in touch with buildings and artifacts that are tangible memories of the past,” Sonne said.
The committee, if formed, would likely lead the direction for local historic preservation, he said.
“Once the committee is formed, they would have input as to what goes on with specific structures and criteria to follow as far as what’s going to establish, in their minds, a historic structure – what would be involved with preserving it, as opposed to tearing it down,” Sonne said. “At one point, (the committee) will probably have a voice in the community, which is needed.”
However, Sonne did not know where the potential historic preservation committee would go for funding.
“Hopefully, we’ll call upon the community to give us whatever assistance we can,” he said, adding the Community Foundation and outside grant funding are two possibilities.
Other communities in the region already have historic preservation committees, including San Juan Bautista, Monterey, Watsonville, Salinas and Gilroy, according to Sonne.
He said such an agency would also serve to educate residents who are unfamiliar with local history. For instance, Sonne added many residents do not realize the existence of the county’s Historical Park located in Tres Pinos next to Bolado Park.
In San Benito County, 516 historic sites are currently registered with the state, according to the California Office of Historic Preservation. The list includes commercial buildings, houses, bridges, cemeteries, farms, gas stations and the New Idria Mine.
As owner of The Vault restaurant, Ignacio Velazquez recently renovated one of the registered buildings. Velazquez, also president of HDA, supports the idea for a preservation committee and the promotion of local history.
He would also like to see more building owners apply for historic status, because for one thing, official historic structures receive significant tax breaks.
“There are a huge number of buildings that would qualify as historical structures,” he said.
Also, the HDA and historical society are in the process of producing an updated walking tour of downtown that spotlights historic sites, which include commercial buildings for the first time. Local artists have also begun rendering designs for the brochure, which should be completed in the summer, HDA Director Liz Kresky said.
Some of the more obvious registered historic buildings that will be on the tour include the Veteran’s Memorial Building and the Pendergrass Hotel building at Fifth and San Benito streets. Several street corner buildings also stand out, including the Hawkins House at South and Monterey streets and the Methodist Church at Fifth and Monterey streets.
Local historians said it is time to “shift gears” in the realm of preservation so future generations can enjoy the area’s heritage, too.
“You can’t get more authentic Western history than around here,” Sonne said.
