Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.2583 |
Object Name |
Newsletter |
Date |
1986 |
Description |
TITLE: Quicksilver County Park News SUBTITLE: Newsletter of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association Issue # 10 September 1986 4TH ANNUAL PIONEER DAY - October 11, 1986 Can we top the 3rd Pioneer Day at the San Cristobol Tunnel? Yes: The Mercury Mining Museum in New Almaden is undergoing a dramatic change. Your Association received a Stella B. Gross grant last year and we are using the entire amount to prepare the artifacts purchased by the County Parks Department. The County Museum at Connie Perham's site will be in great shape for a terrific Pioneer Day activity on October 11, 1986. Please come and share with us the exhilaration of seeing the museum completed and prepared for opening. The Day will begin with (1) tours from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.; (2) a program featuring our honored guest, Constance Perham and our guest speaker, historian, Attorney Austin Warburton; (3) Bar-B-Que Luncheon (provided by the Association to honor you and our Pioneers) at 12:00 noon; (4) tours again after Luncheon. The complete program will be held at the Museum in New Almaden. Parking will be along the road or at the Reduction Site at the end of the block. The County of Santa Clara Parks Department purchased the mining artifacts from Constance Perham in November 1985. The building in which they are housed was leased by the County in June 1986. These buildings are an interim housing for the Museum while a permanent museum is being built on County property at the Reduction Site within Quicksilver Park. Construction of the permanent museum has had a major setback. The study on mercury vapors in the soil at the site is not complete and a decision on fill and capping has not been made. In the meantime, your Association has asked for financial aid from different quarters throughout the County to help off-set the cost of reorganizing and cataloguing the museum artifacts. The cost of completing the project is $7,450.00. We had $5,000.00 so we have asked for help on the additional $2,450.00. With these projects underway it seemed only fitting to hold Pioneer Day at our major project for the year. We hope you can join us. Kitty Monahan Quicksilver Mining Museum 268-1729 THE MOURNING DOVE September is a mourning time for the dove. Late summer flights face a gauntlet of shotgun bursts over much of the state. For the small numbers that live near the Quicksilver Park, life holds no such terror. The long, mournful coo of unmated male doves can be heard throughout the summer. Those whose forlorn cries have attracted a female find summer a busy time indeed. They are responsible for finding a nesting site and then convincing their bride to build a nest there. Unlike most birds' nests, that of the dove is a rather flimsy structure. It takes some luck not to have the eggs roll out or the whole nest blow away. Despite poor construction skills, doves frequently raise more than one brood of young each year. Male doves are very aggressive toward other males and frequently get involved in quite violent conflicts while nest building and at feeding sites. Because they are also persistent, more than one pair may share the same nesting tree. Both parents share incubation duties. The male generally starts sitting in the late morning and holds the fort until early evening--without a break. The female takes the night shift. After the young hatch, parenthood becomes a hectic affair. Both parents keep busy feeding the voracious youngsters a white, nutritious substance called pigeon milk". Later, regurgitated seeds and insects become the menu. The little squabs grow so fast that they are able to fly from the nest in ten to thirteen days. Those that stay in the local area start to fatten themselves for winter. If they disperse southward or out into the farmlands, they may become part of the millions of tasty morsels taken by hunters. They are the most hunted and most numerous game animals in the country. Despite the losses, their numbers have been increasing for years. This winter you may have small flocks of doves move through your neighborhood searching for food. Birdseed or cracked corn will be greatly appreciated. Even with the ardor of the breeding season a distant memory, the dapper little doves may get into squabbles over tidbits of food. They may fight with each other even if food is plentiful. Of course, we have to remember that they did not ask to be named the symbol of peace. Bob Clement PARK RANGER OFFICE The Park Ranger office for Almaden Quicksilver County Park is located at Calero Reservoir County Park. The phone number is: 408 268-3883. QUICKSILVER VOLUNTEER MOUNTED PATROL Volunteers are still being encouraged to participate in the Quicksilver Mounted Patrol. Some of the functions include general park information, trail conditions, rules and regulations (eg. no bike or dogs), assisting in fire detection and reporting, and searching for lost persons. Our uniform consists of a vest with an appropriate patch. For further information contact: Sandie Holden - 997-1948 Kitty Monahan - 268-6541 DATES TO REMEMBER 1. Santa Clara County Horsemen's ASSOC. Endurance Ride - Saturday, September 20th - 50 mile and 25 mile rides. For more information contact: Jan Roberts, Manager - 274-3061 Carla Duncan, Secretary - 779-7085 2. 2. Santa Clara County Bookmobile, under the auspices of Santa Clara County Mobile Library, will be stationed at the New Almaden Post Office from 12:00 P.M. on the following Fridays: September 26 November 7 and 21 October 10 and 24 December 5 and 19 Telephone: 293-7540 3. Pioneer Day - Saturday, October 11 - Mercury Mining Museum, New Almaden - from 10:00 A.M. 4. General Meeting - Wednesday, October 22 - New Almaden Community Club - 7:30 P.M. Come and meet Doug Gaynor, the new Director of the County of Santa Clara Parks Department. 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) Encourage and facilitate community involvement in: a) The development, maintenance, and protection of recreational facilities within the Park. b) The commemoration of historical resources within the Park. c) The interpretation, management, and protection of natural resources within the Park. d) The establishment and operation of interpretative programs and facilities within the Park. Our four years of existence have been fruitful, but there is still very much to do. Help us, because we need your help: |
People |
Monahan, Kitty Clement, Bob Holden, Sandie Gaynor, Doug |
Cataloged by |
Meyer, Bob |