From the Stable we went to
what was finally known as the Plaza Hall which was
owned by a man named Angelo Zanetta. Zanetta, a professional
restaurateur and hotel man, had already established a reputation
for fine food and service in New Orleans, and Monterey. In 1858,
he purchased the land and the low-slung adobe buildings that
stood next to the Castro adobe facing the plaza. This was to
become the Plaza Hotel. In 1968 he purchased the property that
the Plaza Hall is on. There was an old adobe building on the
property that may have housed cavalrymen and even earlier served
as a dormitory for unmarried Indian women. He used the base of
the adobe to form the ground floor of a two-story building that
would become the county courthouse of newly established San
Benito County. Shortly thereafter Hollister was chosen as
the county seat instead of San Juan so Zanetta made the first
floor of Plaza Hall into a residence for his family. The second
floor however was kept for public meetings and celebrations.
After visiting the Plaza we proceeded across the street into the
Castro/Breen House or adobe. On the outside the house looks
pretty much the same as it did when Castro built it in the 1840s.
Jose Castro became the civil or secular administrator of the
Mission. The house was intended to serve as the judicial and
administrative headquarters of a district that included the
entire northern half of Alta California. The area changed hands a
number of times after the outbreak of the war between Mexico and
the U.S. Finally in November of 1846 a treaty was signed between
the U.S. and Mexico and there was peace in the little town once
more. In December of 1848 a family named Breen purchased the
Castro adobe and 400 acres of land in the San Juan Valley. The
Breens were survivors of the ill-fated Donner Party. When they
had first arrived in San Juan they were penniless but story has
it that one of the sons made a gold strike in the Sierra
foothills and returned with $10,000 in gold dust. The house has a
mixture of furnishings from both the Castro and Breen era. There
is also a lovely garden in the rear of the house with a number of
fruit trees still growing.
Lastly we moved on to the Plaza Hotel. This was the Hotel that
was owned by Angelo Zanetta. It has been restored to look as
it did in the 1860s. There were many famous and infamous people
that passed through this establishment. Today the furnishings
reflect what might have been seen in the 1860s if you were
staying there. On the second floor they have several artists who
ply their wares. One gentleman carves charming boats and wooden
toys, while in the room next door, his equally charming wife
paints beautiful watercolors.
We certainly enjoyed our visit back into the colorful history of
California. If you would like to find out more about San Juan
Batista or any of the California Parks, visit their website at: http://www.cal-parks.ca.gov.
Laura
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