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Overview

This five-story hotel was once considered one of the finest operating in Santa Cruz County soon after it opened in 1927. It had a coffee shop, restaurant and garage available to guests, and was one of the tallest buildings in Watsonville for a number of years. Done in an eclectic manner, it had aspects of Gothic and Jacobethan detailing, along with a modern use of terra cotta ornamentation.

Building History

In 1927, the Hotel Resetar was owned by Louis, Mike and Mitchell Resetar, all of whom immigrated to Watsonville from Dalmatia, Croatia. One of its earliest apple farmers, Marco Rabassa, settled in the Pajaro Valley to raise apples in 1876. His success encouraged others from Dalmatia to migrate to Northern CA, including the Resetars. (See Adam S. Eterovich, Croatians in California 1849-1999, [San Carlos, CA: Ragusan Press, 2000], pp. 39 and 48.)

The firm of Weeks and Weeks, founded by the prolific architect William H. Weeks (1864-1936), produced the design for this 100-room hotel that advertised itself as earthquake-proof and fireproof. It was one of the last buildings Weeks designed in Watstonville, long the center of his business operations. He was active in the city until about 1929.

In 1927, Axel E. Bern (1879-1954) operated the Resetar Hotel.

PCAD id: 13113