Redman Hirahara Farmstead is a complex including a historic house designed by William Weeks (1897) and a vernacular barn in the Pajaro Valley, south of Watsonville, California. A Japanese American owned farm which was maintained by local citizens and watched over by family friend, attorney John McCarthy, during the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II and was returned to the Hirahara family after the war, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.The barn included a living unit prior to the war and was expanded postwar to house other returning Japanese families.[1]
This Victorian house was designed by architect William Weeks,[2] in 1897 for James Redman, who died in 1921. In 1937, it was sold for $69,575 to J. Katsumi Tao, a naturalized citizen and "brother-in-law" (or sibling-in-law) of Mitoshi Hirahara.[3] Mitoshi was considered an 'alien' and could not purchase property at that time. Mr. Tao sold the property to Mitoshi's son, Fumio Hirahara (age 16) in 1940 for $10.00 as Fumio was also a naturalized citizen.
Pajaro Valley Japanese Americans[4] were removed in 1942 under Executive Order 9066. The Hirahara's had traveled to Fresno, CA to visit a relative, thinking they would be safe there, but soon all immigrants and Americans of Japanese descent were instructed to gather in the 'Fresno Assembly Center" and from there the Hirahara's were sent to the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas by train. When the Jerome center closed, they were relocated to the Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas. During this time away from their home in Watsonville, CA, as noted above, the Hirahara's were fortunate John McCarthy watched over their property in Watsonville to ensure the property rights were retained. Mr. McCarthy even went to visit the Hirahara's in Arkansas.
Before the entire Hirahara Family returned to Watsonville, CA, Mitoshi Hirahara and his eldest son Fumio Hirahara traveled to Watsonville first to ensure it was "safe" for the rest of the family to return. Upon receiving confirmation from Mitoshi and Fumio, the rest of the Hirahara family returned from Arkansas on June 4, 1945, by train and reoccupied the property. However, for many Japanese-Americans, injustices continued after the war and many were unable to return to their prewar housing.[5] Additions to the carriage barn on the Hirahara property were made in order to provide housing for other Japanese-Americans who did not have homes to which they could return. Following the World War II, Mitoshi Hirahara employed many Japanese-Americans to support the farm until they could get back on their feet.
The house was constructed in 1897 and designed by William H. Weeks, who was responsible for the design of hundreds of unique buildings throughout California. It was a classic Queen Anne — it featured a rounded corner tower with a turret, gables with meticulously carved panels, Palladian windows and dentil molding. The intricate detailing that Weeks designed for the exterior of the home could also be found inside — expensive and decorative wood, including eastern oak and bird's eye maple, were used for doors, mantels, and window casings.
Author and Hirahara descendant, Naomi Hirahara, describes a visit in the 1950s, “One favorite spot for all the grandchildren, grand-nephews, and grand-nieces was just on the side of the curved staircase on the first floor”.Salvage Archaeology around the House was carried out in Summer of 2005[6] and reported on by Charr Simpson-Smith and Rob Edwards. The soil stratigraphy showed cultural strata interspersed with silt lenses of episodic flooding. The foundation for the front porch had been repaired, possibly after the 1906 earthquake. The distribution of artifact categories indicated the greatest activity occurred at the back door (32), front door (7), side door (3) and side of house with no door (2).
An extraordinary artifact was found near the back door, an "Imari industry" decorated bowl dated to the 1800s. It would classify as a “heritage” item as the Hirahara family first occupied the Farmstead in the 1930s.[7]
The barn was estimated to have been built around 1900, about the same time as the Victorian. The barn was 1 and ½ story with an attached lean to element.[8] One small living unit was built prewar. In this room between the layer of a 1937 newspaper and two upper layers of wallpaper, portions of the Japanese book The Autobiography of Osugi Sakae was nailed to the wall.[9] Osugi Sakae (1885-1923) was a rebel, anarchist and martyr.[10]
The carriage barn was expanded postwar to house other returning Japanese families. Various wall treatments and linoleum support the existence of four apartments.
In 2013, the writer Naomi Hirahara, describes the badly damaged house as the "Stem House" in the mystery novel Strawberry Yellow.[11]