MONTEREY, Calif. -- When it comes to Tiburcio Vasquez, the so-called bandit who once lived in Monterey back in the 1830s and who a new Salinas elementary school is being named after, your view of him may depend on what side of history you sit on.
"He was no angel by any means," said Dennis Copeland, historian and manager of the Museums, Arts and Archives for the City of Monterey.
Copeland took me to the Monterey home of Vasquez, named the "colorful bandit."
It's now a two-story city building, but it once was a one-story, tampico style adobe home almost 200 years ago.
And Copeland said it's where Vasquez went to rest after a night of crime.
"He raided all up and down California, all the way down to the Los Angeles area, started out stealing cattle and horses then ended up robbing stage coaches. He robbed general stores," he said.
What's ironic, Copeland said, is the home Vasquez grew up in is just across the way from the courthouse and the jail, but that didn't stop the "colorful bandit" from doing what he did.
"He said he never killed anyone. We know he shot people and wounded people, but he always said it was his gang members that had done some of those deeds. Nevertheless, he was hung for those crimes," Copeland said.
He has studied Vasquez for more than 12 years and showed Central Coast News dozens of news articles and books at the Monterey Public Library depicting Vasquez as a "bandit who terrorized California" and a "murderer."
Copeland said the Californios sympathized with Vasquez for his fight against the Anglos taking their land during the Gold Rush.
He said he was an educated and persuasive leader, but wouldn't go as far as to say he was a "Robin Hood."
"I don't know if he would be a role model," he said. "All we know are the historical facts about him, that he lead several outlaw gangs."
The new elementary school in Salinas at 1300 Tuscany Boulevard is being named after Vasquez.
A committee member who helped choose the name of the school told Central Coast News on Tuesday Vasquez was framed by the system and that he was actually a good man who took from the rich, but then gave to the poor.
The Alisal Union School District and the Alisal Board of Trustees did not comment to Central Coast News on Tuesday and Wednesday despite numerous attempts.
