September 16, 2004

Almaden Day Parade

Event rekindles Almaden area’s historic past

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

This past Saturday, with the glisten of a true Indian summer, the tradition of the Almaden Day parade in New Almaden continued as it has for over a century.

New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association President Kitty Monahan spearheaded the parade while Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Mounted Patrol Ranger Julie Gaffney led the procession. New Almaden residents Mike and Doreen Boulland were declared Grand Marshals and road in a vintage Cadillac. And excitement prevailed through the historic area in the southern region of Almaden valley.

“Happy Almaden Day!” Monahan exclaimed to all, atop her spotted russet and white horse, Sonny Six Feathers, as she rode in the parade.

The 1.6-mile procession, sometimes referred to as the “New Almaden Day Jump-In Parade,” commenced on Bertram Road near the New Almaden Community Club and circled around the pathway, up and down slight hills, reaching Almaden Road, past La Casa Grande where Quicksilver Museum Park Interpreter, Terri Sanislo-Williams, waved a flag and played a kazoo to passersby. The parade featured horses, old automobiles in mint condition, Parks and Recreation personnel and an assortment of costumed participants.

Four women on horses, calling themselves the “hags on nags” brought rounds of laughter with hair in curlers, facial masks and tools for cleaning. John Slenter, park interpreter for the museum, was a “Sunday best” dressed miner accompanied by his miniature dachshund, C.J., who strolled the entire parade route as fast as his short legs would allow.

Two teenage girls sporting hard hats were ready to work the mines. One woman came dressed as a white horse. A “horse & shay” complete with a lady driver dressed in a vintage lace dress maneuvered the buggy through the twists and turns of the historic roads. Residents of the streets, young and old, joined the parade; on foot, on bicycles, some on motor scooters or decorated golf carts. Art Boudreault, an Almaden resident and Quicksilver Museum docent, was dressed as a clown to the delight of the children. His costume was sewn for him by his wife, Sarah.

“I love coming to Almaden Day,” Mary Lee Baiocchi, a Quicksilver Park docent and a descendent of the Smoot family who worked in the mines, commented from her 1964 white Cadillac. “Look, that must be about a ’54 Cadillac,” she said pointing to another classic automobile in the parade.

After the procession, the merriment continued at the New Almaden Community Center where the crowd was greeted by a papier maché miner proclaiming “If you’re not at Almaden Days you’re a girlie man.”

The American flag was raised and the pledge of allegiance recited, followed by cheers from the patriotic crowd. First jury award was presented to the “horse & shay” [a light carriage for one person], second to the peacock bike and third, the never to be forgotten, “hags on nags.” The band played and there were games for young and old; the sponge toss, dart games, even panning for gold. The barbecue pit sizzled with burgers; corndogs and juicy watermelon for the kids. The tasty beans with a hint of hot peppers are always a favorite, and inside the community center, handmade treats of brownies and cakes are available for the sweet tooth in all.

Almaden Day began in the 1870s when Mine Man-ager James Randol declared it a holiday for the Quick-silver miners and their families. The event featured barbecues of whole animal carcasses amid the revelry of music with dancing and lots of fun. Motorized vehicles were added as the years went by and now a cell phone or two may ring.

But one thing was the same last Saturday as it was a hundred years ago—participants celebrating California’s first miners always have a really good time.

To take a walk into New Almaden’s past, visit the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, 21350 Almaden Road, San Jose (408) 323-1107. Friday 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.