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MARCH 13, 2010
New Neighbors
 The Library is situated in a neighborhood steeped in history and rich in historic buildings. For starters, we are located just cater-corner to one of Monterey’s most important historic buildings, Colton Hall, the site where California’s first Constitution was drafted in October 1849. Immediately adjacent to Colton Hall is the Monterey’s old jail which put out its welcome mat to many a horse thief in its day. Next door to the Library on Hartnell Street is the old James Stoke’s adobe, built in 1833 as a private home, and was once a lively center for Monterey’s social life. For over 30 years, the adobe has been home to a series of popular restaurants, including one soon-to open and which promises to return lunch and dinner service back to the heart of our neighborhood! Almost across the street from Stoke’s (which, by the way, is to be renamed Restaurant 1833) is a building sometimes referred to as “The First Federal Courthouse Adobe”, which sports a plaque dating it back to 1836. There are conflicting records pertaining to the building’s age, but we do know that it was home to Gabriel de la Torre in the late 1840s, and that since the 1960s, it has been home to a succession of commercial operations and professional offices. This building is sometimes referred to as “The Green Adobe “, and it has recently been purchased by the Big Sur Land Trust for their headquarters. Travel a few doors east to 539 Hartnell, and you’ll find s a well-loved French bakery and coffee house, situated in what is known as “The Fremont Adobe” - another misnomer as there is no evidence that General Fremont ever had anything to do with the building. Regardless of its origin, records show that the adobe has been around since at least 1849, and in the words of the late-Edna Kimbro, Historical, Architectural, and Conservation Consultant, it “bore witness to Monterey’s earliest period and contributes to the historic district and cultural landscape.” The latest news about the Fremont Adobe is that the aforementioned tenant bakery has now purchased the building and hopes to remain a longstanding fixture in the neighborhood. The Library is delighted to be in the company of new and old neighbors who help keep our beautiful and historic district vibrant.
Category: In the Know |
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