May 19, 2005

History repeats itself

Two New Almaden historic homes dedicated with monuments

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

In the best sense, history is repeating itself in New Almaden. Recently, a large group gathered to witness the dedication of two historic monuments at the Randol family home and the Hauck house on Almaden Road.

Crowds witnessing Cottage #1 monument dedication.

The dedication of the historic homes began at the Casa Grande picnic area at high noon last Saturday.

Centuries-old oaks have witnessed gatherings from miners to the current day preservationists. The group participation of the monuments and program were sponsored by the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association [NAQCPA], Mountain Charlie Chapter 1850. E Clampus Vitus, the Harry and Buffy Wellman family, who are the current owners of cottage #1, and Mike and Doreen Boulland, title holders to Cottage #5.

“Welcome all,” said NAQCPA president Kitty Monahan. “We are all grateful to the Clampers for restoring our history [the Clampers have placed 14 monuments in the New Almaden historic district since 1977 and manicured the grounds of Hacienda Cemetery the day before the dedication]. They told me to introduce dignitaries but everybody here is a dignitary.”

The new plaque.

The plaques designate and describe two pre-Gold Rush residences built by the Barron, Forbes and Company for their quicksilver mine employees. A who’s-who of New Almaden history, past and present, celebrated the new history in the making. Great grandson Kian Wright and great great grandson of the mining manager from 1870 to 1892 J.B. Randol shared family history. Born in cottage #5, Irene Hauck Everall, daughter of Fred Hauck, Sr., Susan Hauck Wallis and Janice Hauck Ranoa, daughters of Fred Hauck Jr., attended the 2005 historic dedication.

Cottage #1: the Randol family home
Cottage #1 is the largest of the homes at the Hacienda except for Casa Grande. Constructed of wood with brick basement walls, it features nine bedrooms and a full basement containing a stove that ran the width of the house. A dumbwaiter transported food to the scullery and dining room above. A Santa Clara County Historic Structures report monikers the house “the head mining engineer’s house,” dating to the mid 1850s. Francis Meyers, carpenter for the mine, built Cottage #1 as well as Casa Grande. It is believed that mine manager J.B. Randol moved into the house in 1870 while Casa Grande was being remodeled. Randol hired his brother, Dr. A. R. Randol, as resident doctor, and he lived into Cottage #1 after the renovation.

NAQCPA archivist Art Boudreault researched records documenting Dr. Frederick Vincent Hopkins resided in the house from 1878 to 1882 and provided services as a surgeon at New Almaden during the time period. He lived there rent free.

Preserving history, from left: Janice Ranoa Hauck and Irene Hauck Everall presenting NAQPCA archivist Art Boudreault with 1907 monthly reports to be archived at the New Almaden Quicksilver Museum. All photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Robert Burnett Smith was hired as mining company accountant and moved into cottage #5 with his family. He was married to Annie Terhune, sister of J.B. Randol’s wife Christiana.

The house remained as mining company property through their bankruptcy in 1912. George Sexton bought the assets in 1915. After Sexton’s death in 1926, his heirs subdivided the area and sold the home by 1930.

The current owners, Harry and Buffy Wellman, call the cottage the “Randol Family Home” in tribute to the descendents who once lived there.

Cottage #5: the Hauck House
Mike Boulland, the current owner of the Hauck house, estimates that it was built in the 1840s, providing more housing for the growing population of the Quicksilver Mine. It was originally built with two rooms upstairs and two downstairs but without any kitchen or bathroom. The cottage has a brick basement and foundation. It is called “Casa Nuestra” [our house].

Clampers christening Cottage #1 monument with beer. Far right, master of ceremonies Patrick Sweeney said, “it’s great to be an American, ain’t it?” All photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

The Quicksilver Museum archives document that George Gauger lived in the house briefly in 1878.

Thomas Barrett, a miner, and his wife Elizabeth, moved in of March 1878 until 1880. An interesting side story is known about their son Richard, for whom Bertram Road is named. As a boy of 13, he lost his right arm in a hunting accident in 1898.

The law at the time required burial of a limb. The appendage is buried at Hacienda Cemetery [on Bertram Road] inscribed “his arm lies here, may it rest in peace.” “Bert,” as he was called, lived a long life and was interred at Oak Hill in 1959.

When the Barretts left, schoolteacher and justice of the peace T.S. Shaw moved in. L. Bodelle was the last resident shown on mining company records as a resident. All tenants paid $5 per month.

When George Sexton purchased assets in New Almaden Quicksilver Mine in 1915, he hired Fred Hauck, Sr. as the company accountant and financial manager. Hauck and John Drew were instrumental in finding and selling quicksilver from the Senador Mine. He and his wife moved into Cottage #5 and shortly afterwards his daughter, Irene, was born in the house.

Irene was a young child when the family moved to larger quarters down the street after the birth of Fred Jr. She remembers idyllic days riding up to the mines. Photos show young, tow-headed Irene with a marching band in 1917 and at Casa Grande in 1919. The family moved to San Jose because the school had closed in the mining community but father Hauck still commuted down the dirt roads of Almaden and McAbee to work each day.

“I moved to Coronado in 1975,” said 90-year-old Irene Hauck Everall who brought along monthly reports from 1907 to archive at the Quicksilver Museum. “But my heart has always been here. It clutches my heart. New Almaden is such a special place.”

The Clampers are (L) Nelson “Mopar” Moore, Jack “Jackrabbit” Furlow and (R) Mike “Eyurnmiq” Fike, all are members of Mountain Charlie Chapter No.1850.

In 1955, the Ryan family purchased Cottage #5. Mr. Ryan was born on the hill during the mining era. When the Ryan’s died, their son John, a Catholic priest, used it for his summer home. Mike and Doreen Boulland purchased the home in 1996 and have actively pursued restoring the home.

Epilogue
The cottages on Almaden Road have sheltered many families for well over a century. They occupy Almaden Road, restored and proud, reminding us of another time and place in New Almaden.

To see Cottages #1 and #5 and learn about other history of the area, pick up a copy of the New Almaden Walking Tour, available at Quicksilver Museum, 21350 Almaden Road, San Jose or call (408) 323-1107.