Chamber History

Although the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on August 4, 1921, the Hollister Chamber of Commerce was actually formed a decade earlier. The following account is given in a 1916 special edition of the Free Lance newspaper.

Since its organization on September 5, 1911, the Hollister Chamber of Commerce has been a factor in the betterment and development of Hollister and San Benito county, succeeding in a number of very important undertakings and a multitude of smaller ones. The passage of the bond issue for $300,000 voted by the county, was largely due to the effective work of this organization, and since then it has joined in every good roads movement.

It has also given the community great publicity and has placed and maintained exhibits at various expositions, many of these winning premier honors.

Since its organization William Palmtag has been president and Gilmore Agnew secretary of this body. Mr. Palmtag is president of the First National Bank and a large property owner, who is always at the forefront in any public movement, while Mr. Agnew is a successful attorney, who in 1892 was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace of Hollister township and has been regularly returned to that position at every succeeding election. 

In May of 1921 the first meeting of the newly reorganized San Benito County Chamber of Commerce was held. The Chamber was launched with a $100 donation from Dr. J. M. O'Donnell who served as the new organization's first president. Elected Directors included F. L. Barnhisel, B. W. Barrett, A. J. Mayfield, Dr. J. M. O'Donnell, Waldo Rohnert, A. E. Weller, J. H. Garner, C. N. Hawkins, E. E. Holbrook, Sr., A. J. McKay, R. L. Townsend, and W. H. Walker. Membership dues were $1 a month or $11 a year and the Chamber's first secretary, Minnie Jane Blewett Kemp received a salary of $70 a month, providing service to 253 members.

San Benito County

"The Land of St. Benedict" takes its name from the meandering San Benito River, named by Father Juan Crespi in 1772.

San Benito County was formed in 1874 from a portion of Monterey County. Thirteen years later, the state legislature expanded the county to include land in Fresno and Merced counties. Territorially, it has remained unchanged since 1887. 

The western and southern boundary of San Benito County is established by a coastal range of mountains known as the Gabilans. To the east lie the Diablo Mountain range and Panoche Valley, separating San Benito County from Merced and Fresno Counties. To the north, the Pajaro River creates the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County boundaries. San Benito County is the valley that stretches between these geographical features and reaches nearly eighty miles south to the Mustang Ridge. These lands are rich in Mexican and Spanish heritage. The fertile soil of San Juan Valley is known for the colorful fields of row crops and prolific orchards. 

Agriculture is still the major source of revenue for many, although hay is no longer listed in the top ten crops. The geography is still diversified-mountains, rolling hills, and valleys; hills are dotted with cattle, vineyards and oak trees. All attract photographers and painters attempting to capture this magnificent country.

San Juan Bautista

The San Juan Bautista Mission was founded in 1797, the 15th and largest of the twenty-one missions to be established by Franciscan Friars as part of a plan by Spain to colonize for protection against settlement by England, France, and Russia. A larger plan was to Christianize the native Ohlone Indians. 

Discovery of gold brought the Americans and life for the carefree Californians, known for their hospitality, changed. By 1860, San Juan Bautista was a commercial crossroads for the stagecoaches that traveled from the San Joaquin Valley via the Pacheco Pass, to the quicksilver mines of New Idria, to the coastal cities of Monterey and Watsonville, and to San Jose and San Francisco in the north and Los Angeles in the south.

Today, visitors flock to the City of History. They walk the adobe colonnade arches with the red tile roof of the restored mission as the Friars did more than a couple of centuries ago.

Hollister

It was during this time that young Colonel William Welles Hollister arrived from the Ohio Valley with about 2,000 head of sheep. Finding the land abundant in wild oat hay, the perfect nutrition for flock and herd livestock, Hollister purchased the land that would someday bear his name. Colonel Hollister left San Benito County for Santa Barbara, selling his land, about 21,000 acres, to a newly formed group of civic-minded citizens called the San Justo Homestead Association. Since there was already an abundance of Spanish place names in the area, the Association decided to name the new town "Hollister" after the man who had sold them the property.

The Association auctioned off property to the highest bidder November 19, 1868, setting aside approximately 100 acres for the town of Hollister. This parcel was divided into blocks and lots which ran on a grid bounded by North, South, East, and West Streets. Building lots were quite narrow, so some buyers purchased two or three lots in order to build larger homes with barns, pump houses and carriage houses. A corner lot sold for the impressive sum of $200 while other lots sold for $100 each.

Growth in the new town proceeded rapidly with new homes and businesses springing up. On August 29, 1872, Hollister was officially incorporated as a city and by 1874 had secured its place as the most important city in the area when San Benito County was formed and Hollister was named the county seat.

So began one of Hollister's most prosperous periods. The hay industry brought growth and prosperity, and the coming of the railroad brought increased communication from the rest of the world. Hollister became known as "Hay City", and successful families began building splendid new homes that would reflect their position in this exciting new place.

Historic Downtown

Take a walk into yesterday, and get a glimpse of Hollister in its heyday! Homes within the district range in architectural style, including Italianate, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Eastlake, and Mediterranean Revival. Downtown Hollister was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1993; many of the buildings in the business district represent styles of architecture prior to WWII. Stop by the Chamber office to get a copy of the "Historic Downtown Hollister" walking guide to homes and commercial buildings, and enjoy a pleasant afternoon walking.