Pajaro Valley Historical Association facts for kids
The Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA) is a special group that works to save and share the history of the Pajaro Valley in Central California. They collect old photos, maps, and interesting items from the past. Their main home is a beautiful old building called the Godfrey M. Bockius House. They also look after the Volck Museum and the Alzora Snyder Archive, which holds many historical treasures.
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A Look Back: How It All Began
The Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA) was started in 1940. It was encouraged by a local group called the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Watsonville Woman's Club. The PVHA officially became a non-profit organization in 1956.
Important Homes and Donations
In 1964, a kind person named Helen Haynes Volck Tucker gave her home to the PVHA. This house became a museum and was opened on July 4, 1965. Later, in 1993, Zoe Ann Orr Marcus donated the Godfrey M. Bockius House to the association. The PVHA then moved its main operations to this new location in 1997.
Over the years, the PVHA has done a lot to promote and protect the history of the region. For example, in 1955, the association placed a monument at the grave site of Charley Parkhurst.
What the Association Does Today
Today, the PVHA manages the historic Bockius-Orr house. They also oversee the Alzora Snyder Archive. This archive is a huge collection with over 75,000 photos, maps, and other historical items from the Pajaro Valley area. The Volck Museum used to be the PVHA's home, but it was sold after the move to the Bockius-Orr house.
The Alzora Snyder Archive
The Alzora Snyder Archive holds many special collections. These include original materials from important historians and people connected to the area. Some of these notable people include:
- Historian Betty Bagby Lewis
- Charley Parkhurst
- Architect W. H. Weeks
