Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [4]
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.2596 |
Object Name |
Newsletter |
Date |
1990 |
Description |
TITLE: Quicksilver County Park News SUBTITLE: Newsletter of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association Issue # 24 Summer 1990 PRESIDENT'S REPORT "As dawn approached on July 10th, 1863, Young and his six leaders had made their decisions. This hot July day would decide the issue between a handful of stubborn hard rock miners and the United States Army. Unless John Young convinced Marshal Rand and Colonel Black to delay the seizure (of the New Almaden Mines), a shooting match was inevitable." So writes Norman Pope in his short story crisis at Quicksilver Hill. Your association had this story and Annie Taylor's Story reproduced for sale at the museum. We first printed these to sell at Living History Days, and now you may purchase both for a total of $5 from your museum. We had a fine display on an old wagon at Living HistoryDays in May, thanks to Peggy Melbourne and John Slenter whose artistry makes our traveling museum a success. Peggymade ore buckets of tailings from the Buena Vista with some pieces of ore. These we also have on sale at the museum.The museum continues to be well received by the public as we are able to keep it open every Saturday from 12 noon ,to 4 PM. Volunteers have offered their time, one Saturday every other month. If you could replace some of theseVolunteers sometime, I could put your name on a list and perhaps you could be at the museum once or twice during theJuly 1990 to July 1991 year. Give me a call at 268-6541; I now have an answering machine.There are two big issues with the County Parks this year. The first is the toxic cleanup of the QuicksilverPark. Since our last newsletter, all that has been accomplished is that the "Risk Assessment" contract has beenput out to bid. I have no word yet as to who has responded to this bidding process.In the meantime, Ranger John Goldsworthy, who sang for us on Pioneer Day, has been assigned for the 1st month as aQuicksilver Ranger. It seems a portable ranger station is on it's way (don't hold your breath) and a ranger will be assigned on a month by month basis. This is not our solution to the need for a Quicksilver Ranger, but I guess it is a beginning. We welcome John and do wish he could stay and stay and stay.The second issue is the request by supervisor Ron Gonzales for the "$4 million a year from the County Public Park Fund." I feel that the people of the Santa Clara County struggled to pass Measure A for rural parks to purchase land and maintain what we have. All of the Park Funds, including interest is already earmarked in the Park Budget. The Board of Supervisors just took $14 million for Guadalupe Park Way for the city of San Jose Park. Yet more: The county park Commissioner will be discussing the Giant's proposal at their monthly meeting, Wed. July 11, 1990 at 7:30 PM. By the way, I'm on the commission now, so if you have any concerns please call me and I'll get it on the agenda or something like that:I hope you like our new map. These were drawn for us by Mike Cox who just moved to Pleasenton this month. We hope he stays active with us. We will miss his expertise. Finally, Our Full Moon Bar B Que is at hand. How about on the EXACT FULL MOON NIGHT AUGUST 6, 1990, 6 PM at the Reduction Site at the end on the Hacienda in New Almaden. We will travel up in our registered trucks and probably NOT BAR-B-QUE this year - too dry. But your association will provide the main dish if you could bring one dish, either an hors d'oeuvre, a salad, a vegetable, or a desert. We will provide the plates and forks and drinks. We might ask for *$1 or $2 to help but we will have a splendid time: Come and bring the family: Wear grubbies. Call if you need more info. (268-6541)See you in the Park, Kittty Monahan Classy Classes The fourth grade classes at the San Anselmo school visited the Quicksilver museum on April 17, 1990. The group of 69 included teachers Sally Green and Caroline Gong-Guy, parents and students. The tour was conducted by Peggy Melbourne and Richard Wachs. Peggy led the group from the museum to Vichy Springs pointing out points of interest along the way. Although this was a large group to tour the museum, the students were well behaved and appeared to be impressed with our place in history. Then on the 15th of May, Richard Wachs conducted a tour of the park and museum for the Almaden County School. The class was led by teacher Elizabeth Burson. We first visited the site of the Senator operations. Along the way the children spotted a deer and wondered what it was doing in the park. I explained that the deer share the park with us. We then went to the museum and spent time inspecting the maps and artifacts collected and displayed by Connie Perham. Dick Wachs THE MYSTERY OF THE DELORES TARANGA UNFOLDS IN DOCUMENT #1-6 IN THE NEW ALMADEN Collection at the SAN JOSE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Gage McKinney found Delores Taranga living in house #329 at BULLS RUN. Gage writes that "there was no indication of the amount of rent she paid, but the records show that she was one of a few women who were renting on the hill." Also, Gage noticed "F. Taranga at #224, 'old house, no rent'." Park Tours One of the Association's favorite activities is the park tours. Yes, we still do park tours. Kitty is the contact person for the tours. Groups and individuals are welcome. The price is three dollars. We do need to know how many are coming so we will have enough space in our trucks. The next tour is July 28th. Please phone Kitty at 268-6541 to make arrangements. There were 2 1/2 tours in June and July. We took a church group on June 9 and they enjoyed listening to chuck Ritch "spin yarns" about mining days. Then they listened to Peggy tell them about the museum and where they had been on the hill. Kitty took a rock and mineral group on June 23. Then on July 4th we took a mini-tour to Bull Run and the Catherine Cut in the evening. Oh, by the way, when we got to the other side of the Catherine Cut, there just happened to be several fireworks displays going on in the valley -just right for about the 35 of us to see perfectly. What a way to say Happy Birthday - U.S.A. Dates to Remember Monday, August 6th - Full Moon Picnic. Saturday, September 8 - Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival at Parma Park located behind the Almaden Valley Branch of the Public Library on Camden Avenue. Saturday, October 13 - Pioneer Day. LAWN PARTY IN GAY 90's AT BEAUTIFUL CASA GRANDE, NEW ALMADEN OFFICIALS AND their families in a 4th of July party, 1899 on the north part of the lawn surrounding the beautiful Case Grande, home of the General Managers since the days of the 1850's, when General Henry W. Halleck built the famous residence, reputed to be, at one time, the most gorgeous mansion in California. At one time the money tycoons of California congregated here, and much of the politics of the State was run from this focal point. By the 1890s, or even before, political intrigues were over, and the peaceful years. had settled in, when lawn parties, and home gatherings such as above were enjoyable domestic rhapsodies- Assembled from L to R are Joe Henwood, "road master, and teaming contractor Lottie Buzza; Mrs Joe Henwood straw, hat); lady in glasses behind, don't know; Mrs Charles Buzza, (looking straight into camera, with bird in hat); Dave Bulmore, foreman of the Hacienda, (son of Robt); Charles Buzza, carpentar, (full growth of whiskers); Florence Reidy, (black medallion on bream, 4 black ostrich feathers on hat); Isobel Smith, holding 'n her arms Lily Buzza~ Ella Smith ( white ostrich Lumber,, on hot) ; Babe Haley; Mrs. Robert Bulmore, (wife of General Agent; Ena Bulmore (child), Mrs. Bulmore (daughter and widow of George Bulmore); Robert R Bulmore, General Agent for the Quick Silver Mining Co., and former General Manager under James Randol whose regime at New Almaden during the'70's and 80's were the years of its greater production . Note in front of Carpenter, foreman, Charles Buzza, two bottle of rare vintage from the famous New Almaden vineyards, still producing some of America's finest wines, and champagnes. Photo-courtesy Laurence Bulmore Berkeley, California. Vote _YES November 6th for Open Space One of the main reasons people choose to live in Santa Clara County is the quality of life this area has to offer. This includes our beautiful hillside views, wetlands, and our recreation areas. On November6th we will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to VOTE for the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority. The Authority will be established to purchase and maintain open space lands that are accessible and visible to our urban areas. Everyone who lives or works in the Open Space Authority will benefit. Among the many benefits the Open Space Authority will offer are:-Additional recreation areas -Protection of scenic vistas and views -Conservation of important watershed lands-Preservation of natural areas for rare or endangered plants and animals -Keeping our agricultural lands working Coyote valley looking northwest from Anderson Dam Manzanita Ridge, Henry Coe State Park Many of the open space preserves purchased by the Open Space Authority will be open to the public, and offer visitors unspoiled, natural areas to hike, bike, ride horses, or picnic. Open space lands within the Authority will be ideal for, school field trips, or to just get away from it all and relax. The Open Space Authority will be an independently elected public agency. The Open Space Authority will be composed of the Cities of Campbell, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, San Jose, Santa Clara, and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County outside the jurisdiction of the MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District. This Covers the South County area, East Berryessa, Alum Rock, Evergreen, East Coyote, Almaden, Blossom Valley, Santa Teresa, and the wetlands north of San Jose and Santa Clara. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 408-944-0828 Printed on Recycled Paper ASSOCIATION GOALS The New Almaden Quicksilver Park Association was formed to:1) Increase public awareness, understanding, and enjoyment of the historical, recreational, biological and geological resources of the Almaden Quicksilver County Park. 2) To encourage and facilitate community involvement in: a) The development, maintenance, and protection of recrea-tional facilities within the Park b) The commemoration, restoration, interpretation, and protec-tion of historical resources within the Park c) The interpretation, management, and protection of natural resources within the Park d) The establishment and operation of interpretive programs and facilities within the Park. EDUCATION IN DEEP GULCH This one-room schoolhouse was located near the plaza and served to orient the Mexican children to the 3 A's. The great percentage of the homes spoke only the Spanish language which made the teacher's chores much more difficult After four grades the children went over the ridge to Englishtown to complete the Upper Grade work. The average enrollment was about 35 and the teacher received $70 a month. By the turn of the century the little schoolhouse was vacated for lack of students. |
People |
Slenter, John Melbourne, Peggy Monahan, Kitty Goldsworthy, John Cox, Michael Wachs, Richard McKinney, Gage Perham, Constance (Mrs. Kambish) Rich, Chuck |
Cataloged by |
Meyer, Bob |