The Diaz Adobe History Timeline
- 1842
- Manuel Diaz moves to Monterey on board his vessel; Trinidad
- 1843
- Diaz married Maria Luisa Merced Estrada, the 20-year-old daughter of Mariano Estrada, on December 1, 1843 at Mission San Carlos Borromeo, in nearby Carmel.
- 1844
- Manuel and Luisa’s only child, Vincente, was born September 6, 1844
- 1845
- Spears sells his part of the house to Manuel Diaz, who builds a corner store (Alta Bakery)
- 1846
- Diaz’s involvement in local civic affairs culminated in his election as first alcalde of Monterey in December of the same year. He assumed office on January 1, 1846
- The responsibilities of the alcalde were many and varied, and included the duties of mayor, sheriff, and judge. As such, the position was one of substantial prestige and authority.
- 1847-48
- Accounts of the Diaz family for the years 1847 and 1848 are limited and rather mysterious. From November 17, 1847 until July 15, 1848 a weekly advertisement in the Monterey newspaper, The Californian, offered to raffle off the Diaz house.
- Diaz proposed to sell 270 tickets at $30 apiece, indicating that he valued the property in question at $8,100.
- 1850
- Manuel Diaz family can be securely placed in Monterey by 1850 through the United States Census, assessment records, and other documents.
- The 1850 census shows nine individuals living in the Diaz household. In this census, both "dwelling-houses" and "families" are numbered. Interestingly, the Cooper family is numbered separately, but listed within the Diaz "dwelling-house."
- The nine people listed in the Diaz "family" include both kin and non-kin in addition to the Diaz nuclear family. Maria de Los Angeles, wife of Gabriel Avilla, was a niece of Luisa Estrada de Diaz; Mariano Estrada was her nephew.
- 1855
- It is interpreted that the altered composition of the household as a product of Diaz's changing economic fortune. Although we have found no clear indication of specific causes for his misfortune, by 1855 Diaz was bankrupt.
- Diaz Adobe was sold at auction in a sheriff's sale to David Spence (Diaz’s bother-in-law) for $1,100 in March 1855
- Although legal ownership of the property had passed to Spence, the Diaz family continued to occupy the house.
- Their tenancy is not as odd as it might first appear, for David Spence was the husband of Luisa Diaz's sister, Adelaida. Presumably, Adelaida's concern for her sister's welfare prompted this arrangement.
- It appears that Diaz also continued to operate his store after the bankruptcy.
- 1855-1860
- There are no other documentation regarding the Diaz family between 1855 and 1860, when their only child, Vincente, died at age 15.
- With his passing, the Diaz household was reduced to Manuel and Luisa, as shown in the 1860 census. The value of Diaz's real estate holdings is given as $1,500, compared with $15,000 in 1850
- 1867
- Diaz’s Obituary:
- “In this city, at 9 o'clock pm, April 15th, Don Manuel Diaz, aged 55 years, of dropsy... Deceased was a native to Tepic, Mexico, in which country he has several brothers residing--one being Bishop of Mexico. He came to this state in 1840, and has resided in this city ever since, a prominent and useful citizen, generally esteemed and respected. His funeral, which was largely attended, took place yesterday” (Monterey Gazette April 18, 1867)
- 1900
- Encarnation Cooper dies, leaving the Cooper half of the adobe to her daughter Anita "Ana" Wohler Cooper. Anita purchases the Diaz half of the adobe and updates the property with the help of Eusebio Molera. A parapet is added to the corner store.
- Louisa Diaz , the longest resident of the property, lives in the Diaz adobe until 1900.
- 1920
- Andrew Molera builds the barns where he keeps racehorses (Event Center). He and his sister Frances live at the property part-time, and the corner store and warehouse are rented to various businesses.
- 1968
- Frances Molera dies and wills the Cooper Molera Adobe to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
- 1972
- California State Parks signs a lease with the National Trust, taking over site operations.
- 1978
- State Parks conducts archaeological excavations and a major restoration of the property, basing its reconstruction on the pre-1900 configuration
- 1984
- Restoration is completed and State Parks opens the site as a museum
- 2016
- The National Trust and partners begin a second major rehabilitation
- 2018-2020
- Today the National Trust has assumed management of the property, joining with Foothill Partners and local stakeholders to create an innovative shared-use operating model. Working together, they have injected new life and purpose into the Cooper Molera complex. Now interpretation and education are integrated with commercial uses in adaptively reused historic buildings throughout the property. A part of the revenue generated by these businesses helps to preserve the property and support the programs and exhibits in the Diaz and Cooper Adobes.