by Marilyn Hyde | Dec 6, 2022 | News
The Methodist congregation in Watsonville was established in 1852, when Rev. D.A. Dryden preached in a grove of cottonwoods and conducted a marriage ceremony on the banks of the Pajaro River. This was believed to be the first American wedding in the Pajaro...
by pvha | Dec 6, 2022 | News
Bockius-Orr House Up in Lights By Jodi Frensley Please be sure to drive by the Bockius-Orr house to see our holiday lights display. This year marks the first in PVHA history that the house and historic oak trees will be lit up for the holiday season. The outdoor light...
by Claudia Mize | Dec 6, 2022 | News
Stephen Bankhead’s Writings Stephen Bankhead, local resident and writer, passed away in February 2022. His articles and opinion pieces appeared regularly in the Pajaronian and Sentinel. After his death, his family donated many articles that Mr. Bankhead wrote,...
by Claudia Mize | Dec 6, 2022 | News
Author Tina Baine is pleased to announce the publication of her book, AROMASTORY: The Overlooked History of an Underdog Town. If you are not that familiar with the rural town of Aromas (pop. 2,500), it sits on the eastern edge of the Pajaro Valley, and its history has...
by Claudia Mize | Jun 14, 2022 | News
PVHA was represented by Bill Beecher, Ralph Jacobs, George Romero and Gina Gallucci. Their presentation displayed census data for the Pajaro Valley in the years 1860, 1870, and 1900. The population grew from 300+ to 5,000+ and the ethnic content changed...
by Claudia Mize | May 25, 2022 | News
Watsonville has celebrated 4th of July in many ways. However, imagine this: in May 1907 the Pajaronian urged Watsonville leaders to take advantage our natural resource: the Pajaro River. It was suggested to dam it up and make a lake for a 4th of July celebration...
by Stanley Stevens | Apr 2, 2020 | News
Stephen Mallory White A Biographical Sketch
Compiled by Stanley D. Stevens Pajaro Valley’s “Favorite Son” “perhaps the most eminent of the State’s native sons.” “the memory of California’s greatest son” — Mayor of Los Angeles Who was this “Favorite Son”?...
by pvha | Oct 18, 2019 | News
9/12/2019 In the spirit of celebrating a job well done, we have selected Watsonville as the California History Section’s City of the Month. This distinction highlights organizations involved in local cultural preservation and outreach, as well as the varied...
by pvha | Jun 11, 2019 | News
The Pajaro Valley Historical Association is honored to receive a $50,000 grant from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to advance our organization’s capital and historic preservation project. Thank you to Board members Judy Nielson, President, and Ralph...
by pvha | Apr 10, 2019 | News
Fifth Annual Raffle Fund Raiser – coming in August This year’s Annual Fund Raising Raffle Campaign begins in August 2019. The Drawing will be October 9, 2019.
