Monterey County Historical Society’s Rededication of its WWII Monument Dedication of the Newly Constructed Archival Library

Monterey County Historical Society’s

Rededication of its WWII Monument

Dedication of the Newly Constructed Archival Victorian Library

Book Signing by Author Lynn Butler

Saturday, May 18, 2024

 

April, 2024. Salinas, CA. The community is invited to Monterey County Historical Society's Rededication of its WWII Bataan Monument; Dedication of its Victorian Gumper-Castro Archival Library & Book Signing by Author Lynn Butler to be held at the Boronda Adobe History Center on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

 

AT A GLANCE

 

WHAT: Monterey County Historical Society Rededication of its WWII Bataan Monument & Dedication of its Victorian Gumper-Castro Archival Library & Book Signing by famed author Lynn Butler

 

WHEN: Saturday, May 18 from 10 am – 3 pm

 

WHERE: Monterey County Historical Society, 333 Boronda Road, Salinas, CA 93907

 

PHONE: 831-757-8085

 

WHAT: Saturday, May 18 will be a remarkable day at the Boronda Adobe History Center with their doors open between 10am-3pm. Several important events will take place this day including the rededication of their newly restored WWII monument honoring members of Troop C who served and sacrificed in the Philippine Islands at 11am with members of the 149th Armored Regiment (successors of Troop C) in attendance. Their beautiful newly constructed Gumper-Castro Victorian archival library will be dedicated at 1pm. Additionally, May 18 will be 50 years to the very day that the Jose Eusebio Boronda Adobe was placed on the California Landmarks Registry. They will also host famed author, Lynn Butler, offering and autographing her most recent book, titled, “Flames Against the Dark: Saving America’s Sacred Sites” in the Lagunita Schoolhouse from 11am-2pm. This event is open to the public and is free of charge. There will be mobile food vendors present for those wishing food and beverages!

 

According to James Perry, Executive Director of the Monterey County Historical Society, “We are very grateful to rededicate our newly restored monument honoring those who served and sacrificed in the Philippines during World War II. We also look forward to dedicating our newly constructed archival library & reading room that authentically mirrors a classical 1880s Victorian library with rich interior architectural elements from a historical mansion in Salinas that was demolished in 1965. We are also very proud to have Lynn Butler offering and autographing her most recent masterpiece, “Flames Against the Dark: Saving America’s Sacred Sites” in the Lagunita Schoolhouse. May 18 at the Boronda Adobe History Center will most certainly be a historic day in its own right.”

 

INFORMATION:  [email protected];

831-757-8085; www.mchsmuseum.com/salinas

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MONTEREY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

According to James Perry, Executive Director of the Monterey County Historical Society…

 

“Around 1970, the MCHS Board of Directors searched for property to establish its permanent headquarters. Gay Nelson, Robert B. Johnston, Herb Hinrichs, and Burton Anderson had seen the Jose Eusebio adobe and realized it as the only original, unrestored, Mexican Republic era adobe in Monterey County. This was a unique property in need of restoration…..” Burton Anderson, 2017.

 

On December 29, 1972, Marguerite Wilson, owner of the Boronda Adobe, graciously gifted the adobe and five acres to the historical society. On January 19, 1973, our former society board president Gaylord Nelson had memorialized on parchment a resolution cementing our institutional commitment to the Boronda Adobe and to the people of our community:

 

               RESOLVED, that the Monterey County Historical Society, Inc. gratefully acknowledges the generous and significant gift of Marguerite Wilson as tangible evidence of our rich heritage, and in appreciation accept the responsibility and trust for the restoration of the Boronda Adobe and development of a history center for the benefit of our community’s cultural life.

 

James Perry continues, "This is how it all started. An act of generosity that would place the Monterey County Historical Society upon a path to become the custodians of the oldest private residence in the Salinas Valley and bring about ongoing development of our Boronda Adobe History Center. 

 

Milestones for our beloved Adobe and campus began happening almost immediately— in March of 1973, the Adobe was placed on the Register Historical Places concurrent with our restoration of the house. A year later, in May of 1974, the State of California officially listed our restored adobe as Historic Landmark #870.

 

As time passed, our membership and archival/artifact collections continued to grow, as did historical society operations as well. For example, we constructed our first archival vault in 1980 precipitating our institution to become the custodians of our regional governmental records dating to 1770.

 

To be sure, there have been trying times—the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake caused significant damage to the adobe which was subsequently restored and seismically retrofitted between 1990-1992 through grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Our recovery story and open doors garnered the attention of several important civic groups including the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Monterey Bay Chapter who generously sponsored time, talent and financial resources between 1994-1998 to entirely recreate and install within the adobe exhibits reflecting life here in the 1850s.  Our relationship continues on after all this time with their support and generosity towards our restoration of our Queen Anne Victorian home.

 

Indeed, it has been a long road. Yet, none of this would have been created, sustained and moved along were it not for everyone along the way who has given a helping hand. We honor those who have given their precious time and talents to this cause since our founding in December 1933."

 

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