Godfrey M. Bockius House
Encyclopedia
The Godfrey M. Bockius House (better known locally as the Bockius - Orr House) is an Italianate
—Victorian
style house in a historic district
in Watsonville, California
. It was built in 1870 by Judge Godfrey M. Bockius, and was inhabited later by descendant Frank F. Orr, former editor of the Register-Pajaronian. Today the historical district contains the house itself, headquarters of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association
and on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Volck Museum and Alzora Snyder Archive.
from 1858-1862. In 1868, Watsonville was incorporated and Judge Bockius served as Chairman of the first Board of Trustees of the city. In 1871, he was elected to the California State Assembly.
in Public Service for his and others investigative reporting into a corrupt County District Attorney's involvement in gambling. The Alzora Snyder Archive includes numerous formerly classified photos from Mr. Orr's collection gathered during his service as Director of Still Picture Operations in the US Army Signal Corps during World War II
, where he obtained the rank of Captain.
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
—Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
style house in a historic district
in Watsonville, California
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
. It was built in 1870 by Judge Godfrey M. Bockius, and was inhabited later by descendant Frank F. Orr, former editor of the Register-Pajaronian. Today the historical district contains the house itself, headquarters of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association
Pajaro Valley Historical Association
Pajaro Valley Historical Association is a historical association founded in 1940 dedicated to preserving the history and notable artifacts of the Pajaro Valley in Central California. It is housed in the Godfrey M...
and on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Volck Museum and Alzora Snyder Archive.
Godfrey M. Bockius
Judge Bockius was one of the prominent early leaders in the development of agriculture in the Pajaro Valley and in city government and commerce in the City of Watsonville. He was a judge in Santa Cruz County, CaliforniaSanta Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
from 1858-1862. In 1868, Watsonville was incorporated and Judge Bockius served as Chairman of the first Board of Trustees of the city. In 1871, he was elected to the California State Assembly.
Frank F. Orr
Frank Orr, the last of four generations to inhabit the house, was editor of the Register Pajaronian newspaper which won a 1956 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in Public Service for his and others investigative reporting into a corrupt County District Attorney's involvement in gambling. The Alzora Snyder Archive includes numerous formerly classified photos from Mr. Orr's collection gathered during his service as Director of Still Picture Operations in the US Army Signal Corps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he obtained the rank of Captain.