Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [4]
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.2604 |
Object Name |
Newsletter |
Date |
1992 |
Description |
TITLE: Quicksilver County Park News SUBTITLE: Newsletter of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association Issue # 31 Special Fall - Winter 1992 President's Message ISSUE 32 The Event of the year!!!! Jimmie Schneider's book, Quicksilver. The Complete History of Santa Clam County's New Almaden Mine, is published, printed and at the binders. It will be available November 1, 1992, The enclosed brochure provides a synopsis of this exciting new book. A must for your personal library and great Christmas gift for family and friends. Although the list price is $37.00, your association is making it available to its membership for $29.23 including tax. You can order and pickup your copy at the museum or send a check for $32.00 and we will send you a copy. The publication of Jimmie's book comes on the heels of more good news. The state is beginning to release its hold over us on the toxic issue, and is granting us freedom to go forward with our plans for the museum. Mitigation measures should be started soon on the reduction works site as we enter the fifth and final phase of the process. We just concluded the tenth anniversary of Pioneer Day. Thanks to the help of many hard working members, the event was another marvelous success. Over 200 people enjoyed a warm fall day, great food, and a special dedication of the California Conservation Corps monument in Englishtown. If you have not seen this fine work of art created by Friedolin Kessler commemorating the work done by the Corps members, contact me and we will arrange a date to enjoy the trip together. site 1936 monument 1992 Board members and their accomplishments. 1 would like to give special recognition to the members of your association board of directors who have given countless hours of time and talents to make our association such a success. My thanks to:. Virginia Hammerness who edits our newsletter and logs in many miles with her flat bed truck on tours and special NAQCPA events. .. John Slenter for his art work on signs, displays and our traveling museum exhibit. John's talents are further reflected in the film and VCR which we show at the museum. .. Peggy Melborne who chairs the museum docent program. Peggy trains all new docents and still finds time to do our table decorations for Pioneer Days. .. Dutch and Nancy Mapes outdid themselves with the wonderful meal we were served at Pioneer Day. All of our special events have been gastronomic successes because of their cooking and management expertise. Dutch also spent many hours with Friedolin building the C.C.C. monument and brick walkway. .. Dick Forst, our no deficit treasurer, spends hours keeping our membership list updated and does the banking and balancing of our accounts. No easy task as we must work with the state to keep our non-profit status in tact. Dick will also be handling the finances for the production and sales of Jimmie's book. .. Kay Carmody who keeps up with our correspondence by writing grants, thank yous and other necessary letters. Kay has helped with every Pioneer Day and was again found charming our guests at the sales table. .. Sue Huggins helps run the museum and is available with her truck for park tours and all NAQCPA events. .. Dick Wachs writes many articles for our newsletter and is special events tour director for mid-week tours by schools, Boy Scouts and other groups. .. Eddie Lewis who is NAQCPA's right hand man (although he is left handed). Eddie provides the generator, speaker, and power for our many out-of-doors events. .. Martha Hanisch was responsible for the indexing in Jimmie's book and she will be coordinating the sales of the individual books. Martha just jumps in and helps wherever she sees a need, especially on Pioneer Day to see that all the tables and seating were in order. .. John Attwood has photographed every item in the cases in the museum so that we would have negatives in case of a disastrous loss. John's surveying expertise enhances our museum tours and Pioneer Day found him morning a shuttle service up and down the hill. .. Jeanne Caravic is handling the distribution of Jimmies book to book stores. She managed the book sales at Pioneer Day efficiently and with terrific humor. .. Friedolin Kessler our artist in residence. A special thanks to Friedolin who served as this year' s master of ceremonies. He built the monument in Englishtown, set up the C.C.C. display at the museum, and has designed and printed the programs for all of our Pioneer Days. .. Sue and Ron Wolfe, now sustaining members, who type our newsletters and prepare them for printing. .. Now you can see why our association runs so smoothly. With board members like these, how can we fail. 1 sincerely thank them all for their tireless efforts and time. Book Signing A book signing of the recently published book "Quicksilver. The Complete History of Santa Clara County's New Almaden Mine" by Jimmic Schneider will he held on November 20, 1992 at 7:OOPM at the New Almaden Quicksilver Museum. Zella Schneider, Jimmie's widow, will do the signing. Almaden Quicksilver Site Community Meeting The California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substance Control, held a meeting at the New Almaden Community Club on September 9, 1992. Shirely Buford, the department's Public Participation Coordinator, chaired the program. She introduced the speakers: Mark Piros, Project Manager and Brian Davis, Toxicologist. The purpose of the meeting was to update the assembled group on the previous meetings, review the work performed on the risk assessment and feasibility studies to date, and to discuss the future phases of the work. Mark Piros (Professional Engineer) outlined the cleanup process mandated by the State of California. He said that this was the first project of its type that had been undertaken. Once a site had been located, a preliminary assessment must be made followed by a remedial investigation, during which time interim remedial measures must be taken such as defining the hoard and fencing off any potentially dangerous area. In this case, locations which were indicated to contain high total mercury content were closed to the public because the state required a continuous approach in order to protect the public. The next step is a feasibility study which has been undertaken. This is followed by a remedial action plan and design. When this work is completed, implementation of the project can proceed. The public health and environmental risk assessment issues were discussed by Brian K. Davis. He indicated that the main concern appears to be soluble mercury products in the waters of Los Alamitos Creek, and eating large quantities of fish caught from the crock; small children would be at more risk than adults. During the question and answer period that followed, Mark Piros stated that the feasibility study would be completed soon, and another meeting to discuss that study and requirements for implementation would fake place sometime in April 1993. Since the major concern appears to be water borne mercury, it may be that the site selected for the museum would require little remedial Richard Wachs MINING HISTORY In a series of historical mining facts, by John Slenter Before development of an effective container to store food and beverage, most miners had to settle for room temperature coffee and food. An enterprising individual designed a lunch bucket for miners that could warm a miner's coffee and pasty (cornish meat pie) or other dishes while he worked. The lunch bucket has compartments for liquids and for food and a removable drinking cup on top. There is a small food tray, about sandwich size which sits across a space above the liquid compartment and these lift out through the top of the bucket. Early day miners would warm the bucket by using a candle from the candlestick. This warm food must have been most wanted after working in those cold and wet mines. Donations to the Association from Hacienda and Mine Hill Enthusiasts The museum is continually receiving donations of artifacts, memorabilia and photographs. We will be featuring several of these donations in each newsletter. Our appreciation and thanks go to the donors of these gifts because with every picture or artifact we learn something new about the mines and the people. Special acknowledgment and thanks this month go to: Walter James, owner of James Glass in San Jose, for a beautiful framed picture of the James family (his father, grandfather, and grandmother) and a large photo of former residents of the Almaden Mines on their annual picnic in 1933. Theron Fox for a collection of cinnabar nuggets. Luigi Amoldi, owner of My Gem Luigi Jewelry in San Jose, for the donation of a high grade solid cinnabar indian artifact. The shaped stone was probably an axe or club head used in ceremonial rites. Anges Yuseff, retired New Almaden postmistress, for a large collection of New Almaden memorabilia and photos. Wanda Iness Cribari for a collection of pictures and certificates from Judge Iness and the Danielson family. Judge Iness is featured in Jimmie's book and it was the Judge who inspired Jimmie to write the book. Stan Pfeiffer, the nephew of Frank Pfeiffer who ran the New Almaden store, for a collection of his photos of New Almaden. Glen Guttormsen for post cards of the El Senador mine area. Bill Wolfe for a very special and beautiful F.L. Neuman upright piano which had originally been m the mine manager's house at the Guadalupe Mines. He also donated a collection of bills and statements of the New Almaden Mining Co., dating from 1876 to 1916. Versa Lee Hartford Parish for old Almaden pictures taken when her mother, Ethel Grey, taught there in 1906 and 1907. Paul W. Boltz for post cards and photos of the C.C.C. camp in Englishtown. We have sets of these postcards for sale in the museum. Pat Loomis, retired S.J. Mercury News feature writer and author of "Signposts" and "Signposts II", for photos of New Almaden taken during the 1970's. Also special thanks to Pat for her help with the captions under the pictures in Jimmies book. Don Wilcox for photos and negatives of the Guadalupe Mines taken in 1956. 1936 pioneer Day Number Ten (or X) 1992 Many celebrations are billed as "The first annual event of its kind", but many of them become the only event of its kind. Perhaps that is because it takes more than enthusiasm to sustain an annual observance. It takes a dedicated group of people who persevere, plan and prepare for such occasions. That is why it was with great pride that the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association staged its tenth annual Pioneer Day on October 10, 1992, on Church Hill in Quicksilver Park. The theme of this year's observance was the dedication of the Camp Mt. Madonna Commemorative Monument to the Civilian Conservation Corps. The program was co-sponsored by the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association and alumni of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Participating groups include the presently functioning California Conservation Corps and the California Cornish Cousins. Thus it was CCC day - and if we include the pioneers from Spanishtown - Si, Si, Si! Friedolin Kessler was the Master of Ceremonies. The program commenced with the invocation by Father Bob Hayes followed by the call to colors by Dave Mitchell and the raising of the flag by Roderick McDermott and Verna Johnson. Mark Biondich led the pledge of allegiance Friedolin Kessler said that when he stood by the flag pole in 1936, he would have considered it preposterous if anyone had told him he would be here 56 years later. One purpose of the CCC alumni is to erect markers and monuments so that the CCC accomplishments will be remembered. Past president of the local chapter, Rod Caldwell, initiated the idea of erecting a monument at this location after County approval. Alumnus Charles Event started the fund-raising campaign by donating a carved statue for raffle. The Santa Clara County Historic Heritage Commission granted major funding. Basic labor was performed by the California Conservation Corps. Work started in February and was planned for 3 months; it took 8 months! Murphy's law prevailed Volunteers included: Rod Caldwell, Ron McDermott, and Mark Biondich (CCC alumni), Parks Department Director Doug Gaynor, Mark Fredicks and rangers. California Conservation Corps Director Joe Griffin provided basic labor with work crews. NAQCPA supported the project. Provenzano supplied materials; Mike Cox, geologist, selected the stones; and Kitty Monahan, Elania Rivera, Mark Biondich, Mike Cox, and Ray Stark collected them. Kitty Monahan and Dutch Mapes took on the job of problem solvers. Steve Rafferty and brick layer apprentices laid bricks on steps and the pathway. To continue with the pioneer Day program, Friedolin introduced 13th District Congressman Norman Mineta who recalled visiting Judge Peckam's ranch nearby in 1939. Jim Beale spoke in place of Dominic Cortese. Jim's brother, a geologist, introduced him to the history of the area. He has hopes for a greenbelt in this area one day soon. Supervisor Michael Honda noted that large numbers of people showed the need for such parks. he said that this is an investment in the future Mark Frederick, park planner, said that this is a most historic park and it was a pleasure to work on the project. The next speaker was Frank Fenton, management analyst, who said he enjoys the diversity in the park Ed Teresi, chairman of the Santa Clara County Historic Heritage Commission which provided major funding for the monument, asked that the alumni assemble at the monument for a picture. Jack Douglas, SJSU archivist, enjoyed his work here from 1935 -1939. He noted that this monument was not built by a public agency. On October 21 of this year, the CCC archives were dedicated at the Wahlquist Library on the SJSU campus. Richard Clanton, California State Department of Forestry, set the tone for the Department of Forestry. There were 33 camps under the interagency direction of the state and federal authorities. CCC labor provided many of the facilities now used by the CDF. Friedolin introduced the dynamic president of the Quicksilver Association, Kitty Monahan. She described an interview with the Almaden Times news editor, Dale Bryant. Dale spent most of the day with Kitty and a brief time with Friedolin. When the article appeared in the Times, it was devoted to Friedolin. Then Kitty told of the travails of the flag being stuck at the top of the flag pole and finally being rescued by a GSA cherry picker. In conclusion, Kitty announced the publication of Jimmie Schneider's book. Joe Griffin, Bay Area Director of the California Conservation Corps, introduced Corps members who were present and the community support group. Director of the Southwest Regional National Association of the CCC Alumni, Martin Corpender, was pleased that this monument had been erected to recognize the CCC's work. Donald Hobart, historian for that alumni group who brought Mr. Bob Pauling, a 97 year old World War 1, World War 11 and CCC veteran, as a guest. Mr Hobart closed this camp November 14, 1939. Ray Stark presented a picture of the camp as it was to Friedolin followed by Rodney Caldwell dedicating the monument. He described projects and work performed by the CCC groups stationed at this site. He noted that the flag, which had flown over the U.S. Capitol, was obtained through the offices of Norman Mineta. The group then ascended Church Hill for lunch. During lunch John Goldsworthy sang and accompanied himself on the guitar. While we were eating Joe Roberts, president of the California Cornish Cousins was introduced, as was Gage McKinney, also of that organization. And so back down the hill, while fire engine sirens were screaming a warning of fire in the hills across Alamitos Creek from the park. Now, it's now back to the drawing board to plan next years Pioneer Day Richard Wachs NEW ALMADEN QUICKSILVER ASSOCIATION RECEIVES GIFT FROM IBM COMMUNITY FUND Janice Frazier has presented a $1000 check to New Almaden Quicksilver Park Association. Ms. Frazier received the funds as a grant from the IBM Fund for Community Service program. The grant will be used to purchase a copier. The museum needs a copier to be able to copy archived materials. IBM's Fund for Community Service, is a program designated to recognize and encourage employee participation in local community activities. Under the program, employees, retirees, or spouses can apply for financial support for specific projects of organizations in which they have a continuing involvement. Ms. Frazier works for IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose. |
People |
Amoldi, Luigi Atwood, John Beale, Jim Biondich, Mark Boltz, Paul W. Caldwell, Rod Caravic, Jeanne Carmody, Kay Cox, Michael Cribari, Wanda Innes Forst, Dick Fox, Theron Frederick, Mark Goldsworthy, John Gray, Ethel (Grey, Ethel) Guttormsen, Glen Hammerness, Virginia Giannini Hanisch, Martha Huggins, Sue James, Walter Kessler, Friedolin Lewis, Ed Loomis, Pat (Patricia) Mapes, Dutch (Warren J.) Mapes, Nancy McDermott, Ron McKinney, Gage Melbourne, Peggy Mineta, Norm Parish, Verna Lee Manford Pfeiffer, Stanley T. Rafferty, Steve Rivera, Elania Roberts, John Schneider, Jimmie Schneider, Mrs. Phillips S. Slenter, John Stark, Ray Wachs, Richard Wilcox, Don Wolfe, Bill Wolfe, Ron Wolfe, Sue Yuseff, Agnes |
Cataloged by |
Meyer, Bob |