Godfrey M. Bockius House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Bockius, Godfrey M., House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in California
|
|
| Location | 322 E. Beach St., Watsonville, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Alex Chalmers |
| Architectural style | Italianate—Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000937 |
| Added to NRHP | July 13, 1989 |
The Godfrey M. Bockius House is a beautiful old home in Watsonville, California. It is also known as the Bockius - Orr House. This house was built in 1870. It shows off two cool styles: Italianate and Victorian.
The house was first built for Judge Godfrey M. Bockius. Later, his family member Frank F. Orr lived there. Frank Orr was a newspaper editor. Today, the house is part of a special historic area. It is home to the Pajaro Valley Historical Association. The house is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site in the United States. The area also includes the Volck Museum and the Alzora Snyder Archive.
Meet Godfrey M. Bockius
Godfrey M. Bockius was a very important person in early Watsonville. He helped the Pajaro Valley grow in farming. He also played a big role in the city's government and businesses.
From 1858 to 1862, he worked as a judge in Santa Cruz County, California. In 1868, Watsonville officially became a city. Judge Bockius was chosen to lead the first city council. This group helped make important decisions for the new city. In 1871, he was elected to the California State Assembly. This is a group of lawmakers who create laws for the state.
Meet Frank F. Orr
Frank Orr was the last family member to live in the Bockius House. He was the editor of the Register Pajaronian newspaper. In 1956, his newspaper won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize. This prize was for their amazing investigative reporting. They looked into important local issues and shared the truth with the public.
Frank Orr also served in the US Army during World War II. He was a captain and worked with still pictures. He collected many photos during his time in the army. These pictures are now part of the Alzora Snyder Archive. Some of these photos were once top secret.
