Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [4]
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.2588 |
Object Name |
Newsletter |
Date |
1988 |
Description |
TITLE: Quicksilver County Park News SUBTITLE: Newsletter of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association Issue # 15 January 1988 As we move into 1988 we see another year pass with much action by your Association on various fronts. The one major issue not vet solved is the study of the toxic issue with the Park. We are anxious to put this behind us and get on with the master plan for the Park. A report was completed by Woodward-Clyde Consultants and submitted to the State in June of 1987. We now have a copy of this report. The discussions of this report and further review of the situation on Park property will be held at the New Almaden Community Center, January 12, 1988, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will give you information on the plans, the extent of the study and the final product completed. I recommend attendance at this presentation, as it will be helpful in furthering the process and reaching finalization of the study so that development of the Visitors Center can commence. In other words, your presence will help to get this job done. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! The museum is wonderful. If you haven't visited it yet, you are missing a treat. 1988 - The year of the NAQCPA Kitty Monahan Englishtown - 1907 Notice Basketball court pictures donated by Mrs. Verna Lee Manford Parish in memory of her mother Ethel V. Gray Manford, former teacher at Almaden Mine Hill School. Willis Kline, principal. PO. Box 124. New AImaden, CA 95042 NEEDS FOR 1988: 1. The where-with-all to buy the model of the Gould Rotary Furnace, an important addition to the Museum's exhibits. Valued at $1,200, it is going to cost the Association and its friends $600. Constance Perham has agreed to donate the remaining $600. We are open to suggestions on financing this project and to all donations. 2. The funds for printing the brochure on Quicksilver Park. The Almaden Valley Women's Club has donated $250 toward this $3,000 project. Once again, suggestions on financing this essential project are welcome and donations will be gladly received. 3. Help with writing grants. IBM has offered assistance. The Association would like to send a grant proposal to IBM for a Museum Director, but help is urgently needed in drawing up the proposal. 4. Publication of the Quicksilver Park Field Trip Guide. The Guide could be sold on tours and at the Museum so that a profit could be realized. First, however, the Guide must be published. 5. Help with conducting tours and answering questions at the Museum on Saturdays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Most of the people who have manned the Museum these past several months are the ones who could lead tours into the Park. If more Association members volunteered their time at the Museum, tour leaders would be free to take tours into the Park on both Saturday and Sunday instead of only Sunday. To volunteer contact: Kitty at 268-6541, Peggy at 268-8331, Virginia at 269-6068, Museum phone 268-1729. 6. Helpers for hiking, horseback and auto tours of the Park. Tours will be given whenever a group requests one. To volunteer contact those named above. 7. A cover over all or part of- the fenced area behind the Museum to protect from further deterioration the artifacts being stored there. 8. YOU and your enthusiasm, your interest, your love for this special place, your support. It's that time of year again when dues are payable so please take a moment now to fill out the member- ship application and the volunteer form and send these and your $10 dues to NAQCPA. PIONEER DAY With a pictorial designed program front by Friedolin Kessler, all were invited to attend the Association's 5th Annual Pioneer Day on Saturday, October 10th. The cover of the invitation was a photo reflection of customs - products - families of times past and a great piece for framing. Thank YOU Friedolin! Your best yet! The day was a sunny fall day. Tables and decorations were in place on time by a nervous Kitty Monahan and a crew of forgotten Mike Cox did a great job as master of ceremonies. We had many speakers who contributed their knowledge of New Almaden's history with reference of time - past, present and the future. Thank you Clyde Arbuckle, Ray Stark and many others. Half way through the program all were invited to a special lunch of Miner's Stew and all the trimmings. Homemade dessert: put the finishing touch to a great meal. All was served by Dutch and Nancy Mapes. After lunch and a few more speakers, we had the long-awaited ribbon cutting ceremony by Kitty Monahan. The museum is now officially open. In conclusion, this was a very special day at which to meet old friends and acquaintances and share stories and tales about this special place of ours so that its historic value will never be lost. Hope all of you will share this special day with us next year. DATE TO REMEMBER When: Tuesday, January 12, 1988, 7:00 p.m. Where: New Almaden Community Center on Bertram Road. What: A discussion of the Environmental Assessment and Remedial Planning for Quicksilver County Park. Who: Doug Gaynor, Director of Parks and Recreation; Andrew Divan of the Parks Department; and representatives from Woodward-Clyde Company. Members of NAQCPA, Quicksilver Endurance Club, Santa Clara County Horsemen's Association, Almaden Valley Homeowners Association, Few Almaden Community Club and New Almaden Search and Rescue axe being urged to attend to show their support for the speedy resolution of the problems in Quicksilver Park. ALMADEN ROAD A road pounded out by the bare feet of Indians before the white man came still stretches south from San Jose into the rolling brush covered hills, the bare earth paved with asphalt. Almaden road is one of the oldest of the area roads whose route remains basically the same after more than two centuries. It was the route of Indians seeking the red earth "Mohetka," to use as paint for their faces and bodies, and later it was the route of wagons hauling quicksilver from the second richest quicksilver mine in the world. Today it carries traffic from new residential areas and shopping centers, as well as recreation seekers bound for Calero and Almaden reservoirs. New Almaden, the picturesque little mining community at the south end of the road, was known to Indians long before 1845 when Andres Castillero identified the ore as that of mercury. And its poisonous effect was observed even that long ago, notes historian Frederick Hall in 1871. "While the color of their decoration was pleasing to Indian's eyes, its effect on their systems was by no means agreeable." During the heyday of the mine, and up until the close of world War I and enforcement of Prohibition two years later, the road was notable for its large number of saloons spaced about a thirst apart. Old timers can still describe the Last Chance up near the edge of the company-owned mining town, the 8 Mile House, Half-Way House, Martin House, (at Kooser road) and the Five Mile House at Robertsville. The latter was a crossroads community at the intersection of Branham lane. It once sported three saloons, each with its watering trough and hitching post in front, and the last of the old buildings was swept away in the 1960's when Almaden expressway was constructed. Farms and ranches checkered the land between San Jose and the mine, and many of the property owners left their names on signposts of intersecting roads which once were driveways into rambling farm houses. There were J. G. Roberts, who had a community named for him; Hugh Hall Downer; J. Q. Pearl; Alex Foxworthy; Andrew Redmond; H. H. Kooser; and one of the most colorful men of the time, Isaac "Uncle Ike" Branham. Signposts Patricia Loomis GOULD ROTARY FURNACE Following is an explanation of the model of the Gould Rotary Furnace and some of its history. Your Association is in the process of purchasing this model -- an important addition to the Museum. This article was written by Carl S. Batch, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, New Idria for H. W. Gould 6 Company. "This model was constructed by Gordon I. Gould for the H. W. Gould and Company exhibit at the 1939 San Francisco World Pair. Mercury production from cinnabar ore is one of the oldest metallurgical processes. It was not until the mid teens however, that a safe continuous process was developed by Mr. H. W. Gould using a rotary kiln for the furnace. Gould had conducted a number of tests and research on a practical method which would be safe from a health standpoint and at the same time provide a continuous flow of ore through the furnace. A pilot rotary was built and, with minor modifications, was successful. The time was 1916-1918 and covered most of the period the United States was engaged in World War I. Spanish and Italian production was not available and demand was heavy. Gould made arrangements with the New Idria mine to install four 5' X 56' furnaces. These operated during the wax and had an excellent production record. A fire in June of 1928 destroyed the plant building. Over the years improvements were made in the furnace sizes, and changes in the fan and dust collecting system as well as the condensing systems. Plants have been installed throughout the world where ever mercury is found: Russia, Japan, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia, Peru and Mexico. In the United States there have been installations in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Arkansas. Capacities vary but range from a minimum size of 8 to 12 tons to a maximum of 100 to 150 tons. Mr. H. W. Gould was a mining engineer who devoted the major portion of his professional career to the mercury industry. He was a world authority on the occurrences of mercury and the metallurgical processes for its production. He was not, however, a one mineral man. lie spent a number of years in the mother lode and was familiar with the gold and copper occurrences as well as many other minerals found in various areas of California. Chrome, tungsten and silver to name a few. Mr. Gould operated as H. W. Gold & Company, and as such built and sold the Gould Rotary Furnace and Condensing systems. As a company he entered into management contracts for various mining properties. Mr. Gould had three sons, Gordon, Bruce (Mike), and Malcom (Scotty). All three at various times were associated with the H. W. Gould & Co. In 1950 Gordon Gould, who was more inclined to mine management and furnace fabrication, left H. W. Gould & Co. and formed his own company, Gordon I. Gould & Co. He operated this until his death in 1968. Subsequently the company was sold to Mr. S. M. Popp, who continued its operation until 1978-1980 when the business was dissolved. ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 1987 Following is a list of achievements which have made this past year a very successful one for the Association: 1. The Museum is running at full tilt. 2. The cataloguing of new artifacts continues as people bring in big and little treasures. 3. All the Guadalupe mines artifacts - the rotary, a skip loader, ore carts, track, the retort, a hoist and assorted buckets, condensing pipes and pots - are on the Museum grounds. 4. Almaden Valley Women's Club gave the Association $250 toward printing the brochure on Quicksilver Park. 5. Kitty Monahan and other hallmarks of the quicksilver Park - New Almaden area were featured on the TV program "Bay Area Backroads." 6. In July an impressive exhibit of Museum artifacts was displayed at the County Offices. 7. During the summer large tours of the Museum were given in conjunction with Casa Grande. 8. The Association has finally received its insurance and tours have been given, one driving and one hiking. 9. For $25 a month the Association is renting another room at the Museum to house all the new artifacts that have been received. 10. Another successful, fun-filled Pioneer Day was held in October. 180 GEOLOGY AND QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS, NEW ALMADEN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM Date: Membership: new renewal Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: (area code:-) Dues: $10 per year per household, tax deductible Additional tax deductible contribution Total amount enclosed Checks may be made payable to "Quicksilver Park Assn." N. B.Please examine your mailing label. Your dues are paid through the year shown on the upper right-hand corner of the label. Dues are payable now through the month of January. COME ONE COME ALL: Come and volunteer your help at our Mining Museum in New Almaden. Join our happy group of volunteers. If you could give one or two days a week, or one or two days a month it would be most helpful to us and you would find it interesting and satisfying, also a learning experience. Help 1s needed in every phase of the museum operation. Please respond by filling out the following survey: VOLUNTEER APPLICATION/INTEREST SURVEY: NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE: Areas of Volunteer Service (training to be provided) 1. Tour Guide 2. Artifact and collection care 3. Special events (e. g. Pioneer Day, General meetings) _4. Trail development and maintenance _5. Interpretive programs related to: Historical resources Natural resources, particularly: Special Skills Information (please give experience/interests): 6. Publicity 7. Fund raising 8. Newsletter typist 9. Volunteer park patrol program 10. Speakers' bureau 11. Typist/cataloger 12. Naturalist, particularly 13. Photography 14. Geology/mining knowledge 15. Other: Best Time to Volunteer: 1. Weekday -A.M. -P.M. 2. Saturday -A.M. P.M. 3. Sunday A. M. P. M. |
People |
Monahan, Kitty Parish, Verna Lee Manford Perham, Constance (Mrs. Kambish) Kessler, Friedolin Cox, Michael Arbuckle, Clyde Stark, Ray Gaynor, Doug Loomis, Pat (Patricia) Downer, Hugh Hall Roberts, Joseph (J.G.) Pearl, J. Q. Foxworthy, Alex Redmond, Andrew Kooser, H.H. Branham, Isaac "Uncle Ike" Gould, Henry |
Cataloged by |
Boudreault, Art |