Jacobs Receives Senior Historian Award
Susan Jacobs received PVHA’s first Senior Historian Award in August. Susan is our in-house historian, who inspires and educates the volunteers. Growing up in Watsonville, she remembers much of the town’s history. Volunteers and visitors constantly go to her when they...
Christmas Displays
Displays are changed every three months thanks to Jodi Frensley and Virginia Avila and other volunteers. If you plan to come, be sure to check our holiday hours. Call or email for more information.Stunning Holiday Clothing Display: The Bockius-Orr house will be...
What’s New
We have been busy at the Archive and have added and improved several areas. Over the years we have accumulated many maps. Over the last year we have completed digitizing all of the collection, now consisting of over 850 maps, the earliest from 1857. Watsonville...
Christmas is Coming!
The Bockius-Orr house, trees, and yard will be lit up for Christmas again this year. Drive by in the evening to see the beautiful lights between November 23 until January 1. (Time approx.. 5pm. – 10 p.m.) The Bockius-Orr house will also have a...
Bockius-Orr House Up in Lights
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...
Stephen Bankhead’s Writings
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,...
Santa Cruz History Fair at the Museum of Art History in Santa Cruz – May 14, 2022
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...
Watsonville was the California History Section’s City of the Month
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...
PVHA Receives Grant from Community Foundation
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...
Preserving our Heritage for All to Enjoy
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.