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It’s said the most important projects are the ones with a personal link. For a couple of local kids, spending time helping to repaint the fence of a historic home wasn’t just about freshening up an old house, but a project in service of family memories.
Built more than a century ago, the home known as the Hawkins House represents many of the elements that gives Monterey Street its historical status. The building’s Victorian style and large yard hark back to a distant era. The house stands as an icon of pre-World War II Hollister life, white picket fence and all.
However, it takes effort to maintain a building with as long a history as the Hawkins house.
Two local boys, Ian Parrish and Jayden Orozco, were given the task to help repaint the building’s white picket fence a few weeks ago.
The boys spent their mornings painting alongside Ian’s grandmother, Barbara Thorning Dassel, who is the current owner of the home, and has lived in it since she was a child. Both boys were paid $20 an hour for the contributions.
Asked why they decided to help paint, Parrish said, “She’s my grandma, and I needed money.”
Orozco added that he was happy to help out his friend. While they both had painted before, this was the most painting that either of them had done in their lives.
Dassel, who hailed the boys’ efforts as akin to something out of a Mark Twain novel, spoke about the history of the house.
Originally, it belonged to T. S. Hawkins. His granddaughter, Hazel Hawkins, tragically contracted appendicitis and died in 1902, prompting him to found the long-running hospital that bears her name.
“She didn’t make it, so he put a hospital in the community.” Dassel said.
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital continues to serve the community more than a century after its founding.
Years passed, and Hawkins’ original home changed ownership.
“In 1955, my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Thorning, bought it.” Dassel said.
The home sold for roughly $17,000 back then (more than $212,500 today when adjusting for inflation). Barbara was 10 when she first moved in, about the same age the two young house painters are now.
And, she continues to maintain her childhood home along with her grandchildren.
“She really loves the house.” Parrish said.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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