 On The Line -- Issue 659 -- November 2, 2007  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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On The Line -- Issue 659 -- November 2, 2007 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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Immaculate Conception Church was built in 1892 so that residents of Tres Pinos, mostly Catholic, would not have to hitch up their horses and buggies to travel to Hollister's Sacred Heart Church every Sunday and holy day.
Owners and workers of outlying ranches also found it convenient to observe their religious offices at Immaculate Conception. Many of its parishioners came from France, Spain, Portugal and Mexico as well as other countries and, of course, the United States. But whatever their background, their faith united them, and the opening and blessing of a church drew the ties even closer. In the early 20th Century, according to old-timers, an event was often described as having happened "before the church" or "after the church" to more closely define its time As its priests officiated at marriages, baptisms and funerals in addition to their other duties, the parishioners found the church to be the center of the town and of their existence. The church originally stood across the street from its present location but was moved to where it is now in the early part of the 20th Century. George Kincaid, who died in 2005 about half a year before his 100th birthday, remembered years later that "it stood for everything in our daily lives. We all went there Sunday for Mass and we passed it daily in going about our every day business. It was the center of our life." Kincaid recalled a period when it was closed between his youth and adulthood "for some reason or the other. We felt lost without it even though we went to Sacred Heart or Mission San Juan Bautista for Mass. I remember when it re-opened and the whole town celebrated, even those who weren't Catholic." That feeling still remains among Tres Pinos residents or those who used to live there, and one of its big events every autumn is the Immaculate Conception Harvest Barbecue, put on by parishioners and friends who live outside the community. Held on Oct. 21 this year in perfect weather -- blue skies and a temperature in the low 70s -- the barbecue attracts great numbers of people. Many spaces in the parking lot are already taken by noon but more vehicles stream in for hours. Bill Macfarlane is the first of the volunteers many people see outside of the parking attendants but there can be no better representative of the barbecue as he sells tickets at the entrance of the building next to the church. He knows most of the guests arriving and those does not know are felt welcome by his smile and greeting. One man from Castro Valley buys five tickets at more than the usual price of $10 each and calls the barbecue a "wonderful event." An old-timer from Hollister says he was promised "the Protestant rate" and Macfarlane responds with a smile, "That will be $40 please." "That's gone up $10 since last year," the guest responds before giving him a check for $10 and asking him for change. Macfarlane laughs and waves him away. Inside, Mary Hubbell shines her splendid smile upon all her friends of whom there are many. Her mother, Isabel "Babe" Hubbell, died last year but is remembered by everyone who knew her as one of the happiest people they had ever known. She was a volunteer for years. Helen Casillas is at a table immediately inside to sell auction tickets to the guests. Many friends stop and talk for a minute before queuing up in the serving line where they talk and laugh with each other. The servers are imbued with the typical generosity of their predecessors and are lavish with the food. Half a barbecued chicken goes on each plate, along with generous helping of pasta and two or three slices of garlic bread. Utensils and napkins are at each table and servers with salad and several choices of pie patrol the area, making sure that the diners lack for nothing. Each ticket has two smaller ones stapled to it, one for pie and the other for wine, the latter not given to children. A few abstainers give their wine tickets to friends but few decline the pie, freshly baked and delicious. Many diners choose to eat inside while others file out for seats at the picnic tables. Steve Johnson, with Harry Hill III, Mark Rianda and Dan Perreira tend to the chicken barbecuing while waving to friends, looking for all the world like genial fiends grinning through the smoke from the grill. Reb and Jill Monaco come out and take seats near the spot where Ed DeGroot is setting up his keyboard with the assistance of wife Deni DeGroot. He has a pleasant voice and accompanies himself in singing many popular songs. Tessie Pulido is on the spot with salad, asking many of the diners about family members. Beverly Holthouse pours coffee for those who prefer it to wine and to some who like both beverages. No ticket is required for the coffee. Debra Cable, who left the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce office several years ago to work at the San Juan Bautista Ranger station, smiles and laughs as she serves wine to many friends who know that her merriment does not come from wine. Jim and Ann Strickland have just finished their meal and are rising to tend to their grandchildren when an old friend takes a seat opposite them. "We're not leaving because you're sitting here," she explains, indicating the grandchildren. "Think nothing of it," he says. I'm not even offended by those who leave their meals untouched when I sit near them." " Inside, Kelley Ferreira and Celeste Sepperini pause while he puts down his laden plate to shake hands with a friend he has not seen for awhile. Rita Appenzeller is at her usual spot near another door to help the ladies in the back room as they rush out many plates of salad. Joe Garcia is all helpfulness and smiles as he steps into many spots where aid is needed. He has volunteered for the barbecue for years and is expert at determining where a helping hand is necessary. Renee Hodges, wife of James Hodges who is Ann Strickland's brother, dons an apron as a volunteer. "Ann talked me into helping," she says. "I just hope I can keep up with the orders." Ron and Dianne Rodrigues arrive and a friend spots them and asks him to help him out by taking the unused wine ticket off his hands, Rodrigues responds with a sigh, saying, "I'll look around and see if I can find someone who drinks wine." And so it goes far into the afternoon as other vehicles are directed to empty parking spaces. Everyone leaves satisfied in appetite and spirit, even those volunteers who labor long after the last guest has left to clean up. Another Harvest Barbecue has become part of Immaculate Conception's long history. |
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