Vásquez House

The Vásquez House, also known as Vásquez Adobe, is a historic two-story adobe building located at 546 Dutra Street in Monterey, California. It was occupied by Dolores a sister of Tiburcio Vásquez (1835–1875), who was a Californio ''bandido'' that was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The building is listed as a California Historical Landmark #351. It is owned by the City of Monterey, which uses it as the administrative office of its Park and Recreation Department.

History

Vásquez House, also known as Vasquez Adobe, and Casa Vasquez, was originally a one-story adobe when Tiburcio Vásquez's mother, María Guadalupe Cantúa, bought it in 1834 from the chief of police, Luis Placencia, who was also the town blacksmith. Tiburcio Vásquez was a Californio ''bandido'' that was active in California from 1854 to 1874. Tiburcio Vásquez was born in the home on April 10, 1835, and spent his childhood there.

The adobe house was by lot, having a narrow single story long and wide, with a peaked tile roof and two rooms with a living room and bedroom and kitchen. The front had a covered patio with two doors that opened directly into the rooms. Each room had a back door that opened into the yard behind it. The mud-brick adobe walls, thick, provided insulation that kept the house warm in winter and cool in summer.

According to the City of Monterey:

The Vásquez House on Dutra Street is located directly across the street from Colton Hall at 570 Pacific Street and near the old county jail. Colton Hall is a government building and museum. It was the site of California's first constitutional convention in 1849.

The Vásquez house has been modified over the years, but is still located in its original location at 546 Dutra Street, Monterey, California. The adobe was remodeled in 1925 with a second story addition made of wood and a ground floor addition.

Historic preservation

The Vásquez House is a landmark that the city of Monterey was determined should not disappear.
The historic house became the 351 California Historical Landmark on October 8, 1939.

On June 22, 1949, Monterey passed an ordinance to authorize the purchase of the Vásquez House. The city purchased the building for $20,000 (). The city remodeled the building after purchasing it in 1949. The city's Recreation & Community Services Department has operated from the building since 1951.

The building was retrofitted in 1997 for earthquake preparedness with some historic areas of the building restored. In 2012, the city provided ADA compliant parking for the City Hall and the Vásquez House on Dutra Street for $62,000 ().

See also

* California Historical Landmarks in Monterey County
* Monterey State Historic Park
* List of the oldest buildings in California

For Further Reading

Bandido: The Life and Times of Tiburcio Vasquez by John Boessenecker

References

External links

Office of Historic Preservation Vásquez House

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History of Monterey County, California
California Historical Landmarks
Adobe buildings and structures in California
Buildings and structures in Monterey County, California
Monterey, California
Buildings and structures in California
Buildings and structures in Monterey, California
Museums in Monterey County, California
Houses in Monterey County, California
Historic house museums in California
History of the Monterey Bay Area