Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.1864 |
Object Name |
Clipping, Newspaper |
Date |
1967 |
Description |
TITLE: CREEKS, QUARRIES' and QUICKSILVER AUTHOR: Jo Young PUBLISHER: Let's Go, August 1967. New Almaden! oft-mentioned historic town 14 miles south-west of San Jose; site of many government controversies since its beginning; subject of dozens of books and articles; prime target of study for history and geology students; but frequently neglected by valley residents. In view of the Almaden Day Celebration, an eighty-year tradition coming up September 3rd, Let's Go to New Almaden and really get acquainted. Starting point is Los Alamitos Park at junction of Almaden and Coleman. Tree-shaded percolation ponds on left side of road are the beginning of extensive Alamitos-Calero park chain, proposed by San Jose in conjunction with Water Conservation District. Start today's tour with a quick dip and picnic breakfast on the shore. Before leaving, note gravel quarry just south of ponds. Gravel from here was shipped to San Francisco in 1906 for mammoth rebuilding project. Across from luxurious Almaden Golf Club take Greystone Lane for a short side trip and a moment to admire the unusual gingerbread porch on the white Victorian house. Across cool, wooded Alamitos creek is igloo-shaped sandstone powder house, part of the old Goodrich (later Greystone) Quarry, founded 1875. Sandstone quarried in these hills was used in such buildings as San Jose Post Office (now Public Library) and Stanford University (1890's). S.P.'s Hillsdale Line (yes, ran beside Hillsdale Ave.) ran along here to quarry. This was the high-speed section of the line, ten to fifteen miles per! Part of steel bridge still remains over creek where road takes sharp bend. Also in the area, a legendary cave, supposed hiding place of Joaquin Murietta. Note Pfeiffer name on at least ten mailboxes. Early Pfeiffer was head quarry master, later owner of quarry and surrounding land. Gingerbread house also in that family. Back on Almaden Road keep a sharp eye out for signs of tracks of South Pacific Coast Railway's line. The main line, built 1876-78, ran from Almaden to Santa Cruz; local narrow gauge line branched off at Campbell (1886). Stop a moment on McKean Road (which leads to Calero Dam) to look down at the bright red tower, site of Hillsdale Line's station. South Pacific Coast's station was further down McKean (Harry Road), after crossing Los Alamitos Creek on 500' trestle. S.P. eventually bought out Coast line (1887). All operations ceased in area in early '30's. Almost to Almaden now, but if the kids are tired of sightseeing, stop long enough to cast a few lines into the pond at Almaden Trout Farm. Poles and bait provided. You just pay for fish caught. They even clean the fish for you, a boon for the cook! Early travelers rested along this dusty horse and buggy road at such places as Eight Mile House and Last Chance, refreshment parlors abounding in liquid refreshment and slot machines. While the kids fish, take five for a history review. The year, 1845: Sutters was still just a sawmill; the pueblo of San Jose a few shacks and adobes along the Guadalupe; ranches of wild, long-horn cattle still the dominant economy. "Redmen" painted redder with vermillion paint led a visiting cavalryman to test some of the red ore from the sacred cave in the mountains. True to his suspicions, it proved to be cinnabar, commencing a flourishing quicksilver mining operation which is still going on, despite years of ownership squabbles, bankruptcy problems, and an attempt by President Lincoln to claim the mines for the U.S. government. Nevertheless, mining operations provided employment for hundreds of people and three lively communities developed. The two larger ones, English (Cornish) and Spanish towns, were on the Hill where the many mine shafts were located. The Hill towns were finally abandoned about 1918 but the third and smallest of three, the Hacienda, still bears many interesting marks of history. Had enough fishing? O.K., let's take a look at Almaden, an Arabic word, by the way, meaning The Mine. Round the first turn toward town, note Spanish style stucco house. Here stood Hacienda school, a two-teacher affair. Hill towns had two more schools. Just beyond is Casa Grande, (now Club Almaden) once the elegant home of the mine manager. Beautiful gardens surrounded a lake where the pools now are. A Chinese Pavilion stood as reminder of a group of Chinese who came here to study the making of their famous cinnabar-based vermillion lacquer. Club Almaden is now a grand family swimming area, with three separate pools of different depths. Special attraction of Club Almaden is The Opry, where melodramas are enacted on weekends, complete with cheers, hisses, and tossed peanut shells. A short drive and you'll spot the Almaden Museum on the left, a truly worthwhile stop. The Perham's, museum curators, provide a personally guided tour into the past century. Ask about the arata [arrastra] in the courtyard, an early ore grinder. Special features inside are the full-sized blacksmith shop, duplicating the ones which were located at each shaft on the hill, and the electronics museum. Mr. Perham, once associated with such notables as Westinghouse, Steinmetz and DeForest, has probably one of the world's most unique collections of electronic equipment. His many-roomed display is a must for the many valley residents involved in electronics industries. The museum and the two houses west of it are the town's remaining adobes. Nearly all houses on this pleasant, tree-shaded street are original Hacienda dwellings, built in the 1850's, once owned by mining company and rented for $3-$5 a month. Board, batten and lattice construction houses were typical cottages of the period. The Hacienda store, a long building at the end of the street, is also partial adobe construction, built in 1848. It was also owned by mining company but was leased out and was a warehouse before becoming a store. Mine Hill is up to the right, along a winding dirt road not too different than it was more than a hundred years ago. However, that area is all strictly private property. The mine manager has made a plea for all unauthorized visitors to stay out. Thousands of dollars damage by vandalism, and at least three major fires each year, have soured the visitor situation. Cross the new concrete bridge where a historic marker indicates site of California's first mining operation. Area under bridge was once soda spring. Enterprising gentleman tried bottling it and sold it the world over. When it was discovered that after a few months bottles lost their fizz, the business fizzled also! A roadside glimpse of the reclamation works may be had by taking right fork of road. This is the site of Hacienda de Beneficio or reduction works, where cinnabar ore was vaporized into quicksilver. Creek site was chosen since water was then needed in process. New methods allow hilltop reduction works .... not only reworking of tailings, but also dredging of bedrock underneath for free quicksilver which has permeated it, has kept this reclamation process in operation since 1864. About 20,000 flasks (76 lbs. per flask) of quicksilver have been reclaimed since then. A rich spot in 1955 gave up 18 flasks in 50 minutes! Price then - $250 a flask. Another time about a foot of the liquid quicksilver, (or mercury) was found in the bottom of an old cistern: nothing to do but bottle it up! During W.W.I the old reduction works was torn down and the bricks roasted to obtain the precious metal which had infiltrated! The price of quicksilver has gone from $80 in 1950 to $485 presently. Turning back toward town, pass St. Anthony's Church, a relative newcomer, built circa 1899. There were two churches on the hill, Methodist and Catholic. Cafe del Rio, once the Hacienda Boarding House, is now a particularly fine restaurant. Note historic marker near it, indicating this, as site of first two-story hotel in California. Pause down Bertram Ave. to read two historical markers there, and to take a look at Los Alamitos Creek. (Means the Cottonwood trees). Acequia, or water trough, ran from creek to supply fresh, clear water to townspeople. Short ways down the road come to Hacienda cemetery with hundredyear-old gravestones. County road was put through over protest of citizens about 1920. Swing across creek once more and back around to Casa Grande in time for a pleasant swim and picnic lunch on the grass. APPETITE WHETTED?' TRY SOME of THESE, NEARLY ALL in LIBRARY Hutchings Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity: Short on-the scene accounts of early Almaden mining days. New Almaden Quicksilver Mines: Johnson; All the squabbles and workings of the mines. History of Santa Cara County: Sawyer; Colorful bandit activities in New Almaden. Cinnabar Hills: Bulmore, Laurence and Milt Lanyon; Just out! Available only through them. Write 2221 Coastland Ave., San Jose 95125. Or visit: San Jose City Museum: (Fairgrounds) Talk with Laurence Bulmore in Almaden Room. San Jose Planning Commission, City Hall: Obtain exceptional color brochure on proposed Alamitos-Calero Park Chain. New Idria Quicksilver Mines (Near Hollister): Recently superceded New Almaden as greatest U.S. producer. Write Mr. Benton Bailey, Mgr., New Idria, Calif., for Friday appointment of above-ground works. . Next month, follow us up the Guadalupe River to Guadalupe Mine area!! Let's Go! August '67 - PHOTO A CAPTION: Powder House, Greystone Lane: Bulmore Collection. PHOTO B CAPTION: Casa Grande, now Club Almaden, Bulmore Collection. PHOTO C CAPTION: Old Pfeiffer House, near Greystone Quarry: Bulmore Collection. |
Pub Place |
New Almaden Mine |
Cataloged by |
Boudreault, Art |