Redman-Hirahara Foundation gives progress update at weekend luncheon
By JON CHOWN FOR THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
More than 100 people visited the historic Rancho Santa Maria in Watsonville on Sunday to hear about the progress towards the restoration of the Redman-Hirahara House, which sits at the corner of Lee Road and East Beach Street.
Rancho Santa Maria, a 10,000-square-foot home built in the 1930s and nestled in the foothills above the Pajaro Valley just off Hecker Pass, provided a stunning locale for the event, which included the classic cars from the local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, scrumptious food provided by Ken Schwann of Monterey Bay Catering and wine tasting by Glenwood Oaks Winery.
Sandy Lydon, Historian Emeritus at Cabrillo College, and Rob Edwards, director of Cabrillo College’s Archaeological Technology program, both spoke on the importance of saving the Redman-Hirahara House and transforming it into a community resource. Edwards talked about discoveries he made during an archeological dig around the house in 2005.
“Most people just don’t understand how important this old house is,” said Lydon, who spoke about the history of the Hirahara family, which was one of many Japanese-American families forced into internment during World War II.
The Redman-Hirahara Foundation is working to restore the house and turn it and the surrounding acreage into an educational and cultural center. Ten acres of the farm are being leased by local organic farmer Stephen Pederson and school children have already been visiting the farm and learning about local agriculture. The house was recently lifted off its crumbling foundation and funds are being raised for a new foundation. Eventually, the Redman-Hirahara group wants to be able to draw in some of the millions of tourists who pass by the house each year and educate them on what the region has to offer. They say that the house is the ideal site to do it.
“This house is the most recognizable landmark along this stretch of Highway 1 and it provides a really unique opportunity to promote so many things that are important to the Pajaro Valley and beyond,” said Geoff Scurfield, board president of the Redman-Hirahara Foundation.
More than 100 people visited the historic Rancho Santa Maria in Watsonville on Sunday to hear about the progress towards the restoration of the Redman-Hirahara House, which sits at the corner of Lee Road and East Beach Street.
Rancho Santa Maria, a 10,000-square-foot home built in the 1930s and nestled in the foothills above the Pajaro Valley just off Hecker Pass, provided a stunning locale for the event, which included the classic cars from the local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, scrumptious food provided by Ken Schwann of Monterey Bay Catering and wine tasting by Glenwood Oaks Winery.
Sandy Lydon, Historian Emeritus at Cabrillo College, and Rob Edwards, director of Cabrillo College’s Archaeological Technology program, both spoke on the importance of saving the Redman-Hirahara House and transforming it into a community resource. Edwards talked about discoveries he made during an archeological dig around the house in 2005.
“Most people just don’t understand how important this old house is,” said Lydon, who spoke about the history of the Hirahara family, which was one of many Japanese-American families forced into internment during World War II.
The Redman-Hirahara Foundation is working to restore the house and turn it and the surrounding acreage into an educational and cultural center. Ten acres of the farm are being leased by local organic farmer Stephen Pederson and school children have already been visiting the farm and learning about local agriculture. The house was recently lifted off its crumbling foundation and funds are being raised for a new foundation. Eventually, the Redman-Hirahara group wants to be able to draw in some of the millions of tourists who pass by the house each year and educate them on what the region has to offer. They say that the house is the ideal site to do it.
“This house is the most recognizable landmark along this stretch of Highway 1 and it provides a really unique opportunity to promote so many things that are important to the Pajaro Valley and beyond,” said Geoff Scurfield, board president of the Redman-Hirahara Foundation.
posted by redmanfoundation | 12:25 PM
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