History Lives Here · tee from Pescadero met at the PVHA Archive at the sponsorship of Martha...

Spring 2019 Pajaro Valley Historical Association

Spring 2019Lives HereHistory

See SISTER page 5

New Sister Cities: Watsonville and the Croatian City CavtatBy Claudia Mize

Two Croatian dignitaries, Ivo Radonic and Mario Curic, visited the PVHA archive in March to research the Croatian surnames and geneology and wound up staying for lunch. They were in town to meet with Watsonville Mayor Estrada and Councilman Hurst to sign an agreement that established a sister cities relationship. Cavtat is located on the Adriatic Coast in the county seat of Konavle, southeast of Dubrovnik. Deputy Municipal Prefect Ivo Radonic, and Head of the Department of General Affairs Mario Curic said many families from that re-

Ivo Radonic and Mario Curic, visited the PVHA archive in March to research the Croatian surnames.

Pajaro Valley Historical Association Spring 2019

By Lou Arbanas The Pajaro Valley Historical Association was honored by the Jean and Ed Kelley Foundation on Dec. 17, 2018 at their 22nd annual spectacular community philanthropic fundraiser. The PVHA helped provide photographs of Pajaro Valley businesses that are over 100 years and still in operation. Jean and Ed formed their foundation in 1996 whose goal was to bring the community together to focus on the mission: “ To Serve and promote Academics, the Arts, Athletics, the health and well being of the youth of the Pajaro Valley.” “When I was eight years old, my grandfather told me it was our responsibility to share our good fortune with other people,” said

Ed Kelly, whose family has been farming in the Watsonville area for more than 160 years.

Ed and Jean Kelly Foundation Honor PVHA at Fundraiser

PVHA is looking for volunteers-- both students and older adults. Community service hours can be earned by students. We can offer the opportunity for the senior

adults to pass history on to the younger generation while helping preserve and protect the history of the Pajaro Valley. If interested contact PVHA. Email: [email protected] or phone: 831-722-0505

A Blue Plaque Award for the Watsonville Buddhist Temple By Ann Jenkins The Watsonville Buddist Temple will be one of eight Blue Plaque recipients in May. The Watsonville Buddhist Temple at 423 Bridge Street was built in 1956. The original Watsonville Buddhist Temple was established in 1906 at the corner of Union and Bridge Streets (now Riverside Drive). All are invited to the Blue Plaque Awards ceremony at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH). The ceremony is at 11 am on Saturday, May 11 at the MAH auditorium/forum room on Front Street in Santa Cruz. Light refreshments will be served. For information, please call Ann Jenkins, our South County Chair: 831-840-6495. In 1973, the Santa Cruz Historical Society, one of the predeces-sors of MAH, began the Blue Plaque Award program to educate the community about the rich architectural heritage of Santa Cruz County. MAH authorizes the plaques, which are paid for by the owner of the property. Historic Landmark designation by MAH is purely honorary and has no legal implications, nor is it connected with City or County historical building surveys. The historic land-mark plaques highlight the historic structures, educate the public and provide visibility for successful preservation. Nearly 150 plaques have been awarded over the years. Awards are announced each May during National History Month.

ABOVE: The original Watsonville Buddhist Temple. BOTTOM: The Watsonville Buddhist Temple at 423 Bridge Street.

Volunteers Needed For Easter Break, PHVA Will Be Closed From April 16 to 29


By Lou Arbanas On Sunday January 13th the 77th Annual Membership meeting was held in the Archive. There was a complete review of the highlights of all activities and events

for 2018, as well as up-dates from project chairs and members at large. Pictured is President Judy Nielsen Doering presenting the highlights of our very successful Fourth Annual Stay-At-Home fundraiser.

PHVA holds 77th membership meeting

By Claudia Mize On February 6, an ad-hoc commit-tee from Pescadero met at the PVHA Archive at the sponsorship of Martha Muzzi. The group is in the process of

creating their own museum in the Pes-cadero area just South of Half Moon Bay and were gathering information. The delegation consisted of Rita Giannini, Patty Sarabia, Chris Weeks Rudolf, and Adrienne Simms.

Pescadero group meets with PVHA

Financial Review 2018 2018 was a good year for PVHA. We met all of our financial obligations and completed two Capital Improvement Projects. This is the third year in a row we have paid all of our bills without dipping into reserves.For 2018:• Operating Income ………............…. $116,000.00• Operating Expenses ……............….. $105,000.00Primary Sources of Income:• Endowment/ Grants………................. $31,000.00• Beach St. Rental……………...........….$24,000.00• Memberships ………………….............$21,000.00• Raffle …………………………….....…..$12,000.00Largest Expense Items:• Payroll …………………………......……$23,000.00• Utilities……………………….…......……$11,000.00• Computer/ Maintenance….................…$9,000.00• Landscape/ Garden……............………$12,000.00• Repairs /Maintenance……..............… $10,000.00• Insurance……………………........………$9,000.00Capital Improvements:• Porter Annex………………..........………$9,000.00• Bockius/ Orr House…………...........….$11,000.00Oral History:• Completed 94 Oral History transcriptions with a $10,000.00 grant from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz Co.

Thank you to our Treasurer Ralph Jacobs

Clark’s Clothing Designs Now on DisplayBy Mimi Crumpton Renowned clothing designer – Watson-ville’s Rachel Clark, will have a collection of quilted coats on display at PVHA starting the 1st of April and lasting through Summer. Her colors are vi-brant and each coat is named to tell a story. Be sure to see them.


Items of Note As of April 1, 2019

HonorariumGerry Martin •AnnRando

MemorialsBeulah Rider •RitaPope •DeborahRider •TomandJoyceKalich

Patti Benich •JimandShirleySpain

Virgil Stringari •KenandAnneDobler

Bill and Joanne Resetar •NancyRuizDePuy

Jane Borg •NancyRuizDePuy •ArleneOkamotoMinami •DobieandAnnJenkins •SandraDavidson •RalphandSusanJacobs

Jerry McGowan •SallyEnglandNeubauer

Allan E. Petersen •BettyJoPetersen

Jake Lambert •BillandKarenMoncovich

Jim Rector •MarianRector

Virginia Rosewall •ThomasRosewall

Shirley Sue Friend •JimandShirleySpain •EdwardandKathleenBanks

Estelle Unruh •JimandShirleySpain •RalphandSusanJacobs

Tim Rowan •JimandShirleySpain

Millie Davis •RalphandSusanJacobs

Ed Bystran •LouArbanas

•RalphandSusanJacobs

DonationsGeneral •BrandonandTrishaKett •HaroldandDorothyHyde •MimiCrumpton/PacificAgPakInc. Research •CarlandFranDobler •JoeFlores •PajaroValleyStampClub

Paint Fund •EdandSharonBystran

Garden: In honor of Dixie Arns and her love of flowers• JeriStriegel

MembershipsNew Members •JoaquineAguilar •ArleneOkamotoMinami

Renewed in November •ChuckandRamonaAllen •DouglasandNorisAnderson •TheresaCordoza •CarlandFranDobler •ManuelandAnnWycoffCarlos •MimiCrumpton •SteveDufour •GeorgeannEiskamp •RodandPennyHudson •OliverJohnson •BrandonandTrishaKett •RobertandJaneyLeonardich •DonnMarinovich •MaryEllenMartinelli •PatriciaNovakovich •JosephParker •DeborahRider

Renewed in December •DaveandClaireBaum(PacificAgPak.Inc.) •BillBeecher •CharlesandMarybethBontadelli •ColleenBrunetti •DanielandPatriciaDavis •LonandAnnamarieDugger •MarilynHyde •LuannLausen •MaryEllenMartinelli

•BillandKarenMoncovich •JunePierce •DavidJ.Rock •TonyScurich •EugeneL.Valla

Renewed in January •AgHistoryProject •DaveBachan •MargueriteBloom •MarvinandEileenByers •NancyRuizDepuy •EugeneandShirleyFriend •GinaGallucci •NormaHansen •MaryEllenIrons •DobieandAnnJenkins •NicandJenniferKeiderling •CliffordandLindaLeong •GerryMartin •ThomaMitchell •WilliamandSallyNeubauer •WalterandPatriciaPhillipsJr. •BarneyandMarleneRadovich •MarianRector •AdolphRosekrans •ThomasRosewall •SusanScurich •AlexSolano •PatriciaStepovich

Renewed in February•FrankandLorettaEstrada• WilliamandWilmaGeorge• RosaGuerrero• LawrenceLease• JanOnufray• TaylorsOfficeCity• TerryLocke-Paddon• HankandCathySchimpeler

Renewed in March• NormanAtkins• EdandKathyBanks• AnneWycoffCarlos• JeanetteCrosetti• JohnEspinoza• JodiFrensley• S.A.Kane• KathleenMoe• KathleenReynolds• LorraineWashington• PhilYbarra


gion immigrated to the Pajaro Valley in the late 19th century to find a better life. They helped build the apple industry here. Cavtat is an urban center with a mild climate and large agriculture industry. The Slavic Croa-tian American community keeps a strong connection with their homeland.

The “Vez” While perusing the archive, Ivo and Mario were excited to see a garment worn by Croatian ladies called a “vez”. The vez pictured was donated from the estate of Ana Metkovich. This design is found only in Konavle and in no other place in the world. It will be on display at the Archive. Konavle is steeped in tradition — and that is part of the charm of the most southern tip of Croatia. Each new gen-eration is taught the skills and to respect the knowledge of their ancestors. One of these traditions is Konavle embroidery or “Konavoski vez.”

This decorative embroidery began as an adornment to ladies dresses. The sleeves and breasts of women’s costumes were enhanced with bright embroidered patterns. The work that goes into the finished vez is impressive. Each family in Konavle had their own nest of silk worms from which they would extract silk thread. These threads were colored, using naturals dyes. The main colors are red, black, dark green and gold. The embroidered designs can take months to complete. Symmetrical geometric motifs are the trademark of Konavle embroidery, with each line and square perfectly mirrored throughout. The Konavle embroidery is still used today on decorative costumes and also on tablecloths, pillows, handkerchiefs, coast-ers and dresses. You can find this traditional form of embroidery in the shops in the Old City of Dubrovnik. Every Sunday in front of the main church in Cilipi in the heart of Konavle there is a performance of folklore dancing where you will see the dancers wearing this embroidery. And now, if you visit PVHA you can see this vez without having to leave Watsonville.

SISTERContinued from Front Page

By Lou Arbanas In December of 1976 Watsonville’s 24 operators were replaced by automated direct dial phones and we lost the cheerful helpful voice known as the “operator.” It’s been a long and winding cord, sort of, for the Pajaro Val-ley and it’s use of the telephone. While Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 got his patent for the phone, a local Watsonville man W.A. Beck invented in 1877 a phone energized by a horse-shoe magnet and deployed between a Beck St. home and a Blackburn St. home according to historian Betty Lewis. In 1999 Betty also noted that she was almost run over by a man jabbering into a phone in his car. Ironic that after 20 years that phenomena persists. In 1903 the Register Pajaronian wrote: “few patrons realize the trying duties incumbent upon the young ladies at the switchboard in a telephone office. Their task is by no means an easy one. Any persons using phones should not become too impatient about getting

the number they call for. Remember that three or four people on the same line may be calling the operator at one time, and she cannot attend to them all at once. If you know the number you want, do not give central simply the name of the party as you will compel the operator to look it up. “

Telephone’s history in the Pajaro Valley

SaveMay18fortheSantaCruzCountyHistoryFair Santa Cruz County History Fair is a rare opportunity to check out MAH, PVHA and Capitola historical association in one place. There will be displays, demon-

strations, old photos and activi-ties for all ages. Learn about historic local industries, archaeology, early settlers, genealogy, Indigenous peoples.

Learn how to do historical research and much more! Mark your calendar for May 18 from 12-4 p.m. at Capitola Community Center at Jade St. Park, Capitola. Free Admission.


Pajaro Valley Historical AssociationP.O. Box 623Watsonville, CA 95077

PreservingtheHistoryoftheGreaterPajaroValleyEstablished1940~Incorporated1956

Board of DirectorsJudy Nielsen, PresidentChuckAllen,Vice-PresidentRalph Jacobs, TreasurerLuannLauesen,SecretaryKenDoblerJohnEspinozaPeter NavarroTonyScurichPhilYbarraSharonBystran

Office Administrator: Jodi FrensleyI.T. Committee Chair:LouisArbanas

PHONE:831-722-0305EMAIL:[email protected]

Ways to Donate

•BecomeaMember

•UpgradeyourMembershipLevel

•Makeageneraldonation to the PVHA

•Makeadonation toourendowmentfunds:The Historic Preserva-tion Fund or Archive Fund, both established a t The Community Foundation

THE AGRICULTURAL HISTORY PROJECTP.O. Box 1181Watsonville, CA 95077

Phone/Fax: 831-724-5898Email: [email protected]: www.aghistoryproject.org

AHP MISSION STATEMENT

Enriching our Lives with Agricultural History

JOIN AHP....enjoy members-only benefits and support ag history!Yes, I/We will support the Agricultural History Project in the membership classification checked below:Name or Business

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City, State, Zip

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INDIVIDUAL: [ ] Regular ($30 per year) [ ] Sustaining ($100 per year) [ ] Benefactor ($500 per year) [ ] Life ($1,000) FAMILY: [ ] Regular ($40 per year) [ ] Sustaining ($100 per year) [ ] Benefactor ($500 per year) [ ] Life ($1,000) STUDENT: [ ] ($20 per year) BUSINESS: [ ] Regular ($250 per year) [ ] Benefactor ($500 per year) [ ] Life ($1,000)

Donations to AHP are tax deductible. ID # 77-0165945

Clip and mail to: AHP, P. O. Box 1181, Watsonville, CA 95077

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peRMit No. 22 Watsonville,

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The Agricultural History Project (AHP) honors and promotes knowledge about agriculture on the Central California Coast, both past and

present.AHP preserves, exhibits, collects and builds

community awareness of the economic, cultural and ethnic aspects of agriculture in the area.

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Want to join now or need to renew? We’d love to have you become a member of PVHA

MEMBERSHIP FORMPlease Make Checks Payable to “PVHA”

PO BOX 623 Watsonville CA 95077Orjoinviaourwebsiteatwww.pajarovalleyhistory.org(VisaorMastercard)

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Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code — Tax ID 94-1663161Thank You!

History Lives Here · tee from Pescadero met at the PVHA Archive at the sponsorship of Martha...

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Transcript of History Lives Here · tee from Pescadero met at the PVHA Archive at the sponsorship of Martha...