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.

Good Luck! Have Fun! and Stay Safe!

Laura

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