The historic Redman-Hirahara house in Watsonville, built in 1897 and significant to local agriculture, faces potential demolition as the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors prepares to vote on its delisting from the National Register of Historic Places. Historian Sandy Lydon highlighted the challenges of restoration due to the property’s deterioration and limited funding opportunities. The house's history is rich, having served various agricultural functions and once being home to the Redman family, who played a key role in the Pajaro Valley’s farming legacy.
The fate of the Redman-Hirahara house, once critical to Watsonville's agriculture, now lies with the county board's decision on its historic delisting and potential demolition.
The mansion, designed in 1897 by architect William Weeks, showcases a Queen Anne style, symbolizing a significant history in the Pajaro Valley's agricultural development.
Historian Sandy Lydon expressed concern, stating restoration is unlikely given the house’s current state and the scarcity of applicable federal and state grants.
The Redman-Hirahara house had been associated with a rich agricultural legacy, growing sugar beets and berries, while also employing Japanese migrant labor.
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