October 14, 2004


Something old is now new again

Blacksmith shop makes debut at Casa Grande Pioneer Day celebration

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

Casa Grande witnessed and survived 150 years of New Almaden chronicles. And so it was only apropos that on the 20th annual Pioneer Day celebration, the great lady was honored. On a warm autumn morning preceded by a cleansing night rainfall, the event commemorated the dedication of the finished blacksmith shop by the museum as well as the dedication of an ore cart situated at the entrance to the historic building.

Dwight Summers prepares to shoe an agreeable equine while Holly Davis holds the rein. Below left: Dressed to the nines for Pioneer Day: Quicksilver Mining Museum docent Mary Moran and NAQCPA member Mike Boulland. Below right: A moment of prayer: From left, Holly Davis, circuit rider Gage Mc Kinney, Kitty Monahan, and traveling minstrel Dennis Moran. Photos by Jeanne C. Lewis

The event was sponsored by the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association [NAQCPA] and the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department [SCCPRD].

“This is a two-fold event today,” John Slenter, SCCPRD park interpreter of the Quicksilver Mining Museum, dressed in miner’s garb, said in his opening remarks as master of ceremonies. “The first is the recognition of Casa Grande which is having its 150th birthday, completed in 1854, and the other part is for all the efforts and time that went into the blacksmith shop.”

Slenter introduced mining family descendents John and Nancy Drew. Ian Wright, the great, great grandson of mine manager James Randol shared memories of stories he listened to as a young child about the Quicksilver area.

Lisa Killough, SCCPRD department director and Mark Frederick SCCPRD planning, development and real estate services manager were also in attendance for the new additions to the Quicksilver Mining Museum.

“I want to thank all of you for your support of the park,” Lisa Killough said to the crowd seated at Casa Grande’s shaded picnic area behind the structure. “It’s a lovely facility. You’re going to see some nice improvements in the future. What makes this facility work so well is the people. The people that volunteer…really give back to the community. It’s a wonderful community and you are what make it special.”

Art Boudreault, a SCCPRD volunteer and NAQCPA treasurer, presented a history of the blacksmith in the New Almaden area beginning in 1850 when a man named Baker designed the first group of six reduction furnaces built along the south side of the Los Alamitos Creek. Boudreault presented special awards to volunteers Sean Teague, David Miller, Chuck Ferrier and Tolly Powell who donated their time and creativity to construct and display the artifacts of the blacksmith shop area.

As the awards were presented, the 100-plus crowd munched on juicy barbecued beef sandwiches, old-fashioned coleslaw, and ice-cold lemonade that NAQCPA member Nancy Mapes orchestrated. Doreen Boulland staffed the ice cream cart at the event passing out the goodies before the dedication of the new exhibit.

The blacksmith shop is stocked with artifacts of another time and place, suggesting that a worker laid down his tools and would return the next day to continue heating, shaping, welding, and tempering steel. Chuck Ferrier, reenacted the strenuous labor of a workman’s day. Toiling metal over hot coals, he pounded the red-hot iron to shape tools. Ferrier is a modern-day blacksmith and was born when his family lived on Almaden Road.

Dwight Summers shod horses at the landscaped entranced area of the blacksmith shop with two most agreeable equines participating in a reenactment of the past as horses were the method of travel and transporting of goods.

Yvonne Zolza remembered her internship at the old Mining Museum while attending San Jose State University.

She visited recently and returned for Pioneer Day dressed in 1800s fashion and working on needle art.

“This blends everything I like,” Zolza, a member of the National Civil War Assocation who spends her spare time reenacting the time period throughout California, commented. “Crocheting and history.”

Mike Boulland, NAQCPA member and president of Friends of Santa Teresa Park, dressed as mine manager Robert Bulmore complete in a black suit with tails.

“I wear this for the tours I take the school children on,” Boulland remarked. “It brings Bulmore to life for them.”

Kitty Monahan, NAQCPA president, led the dedication of the blacksmith shop and thanked all the work of the volunteers. The building was originally the carriage house for the mine managers who resided at Casa Grande.

Monahan began organizing the effort to create a permanent museum for the artifacts three years ago.

The dedication of the ore cart at the entrance was donated by the Freitas family who lived and worked in New Almaden. The plaque attached reads “In memory of longtime Almaden Residents Bill Dayton 4-15-44 to 2-22-89 and Frank Freitas 11-27-19 to 1-9-87.”

“We are very happy that it’s found a home,” Rita Freitas said to the spectators. “We didn’t know where to put it. This way everyone can enjoy it.”

Casa Grande has many stories to tell. Lives have come and gone in the natural progression of human history.

From the challenging work of the miners to the NAQCPA members’ volunteer efforts, the building stood grand and proud. Some dreams come true, others do not. Saturday’s Pioneer Day celebration and the opening of the exhibit of the blacksmith shop commemorated the past, honored the accomplishments of the present and passed along another chronicle for future generations.

To see the blacksmith shop, visit the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, 21350 Almaden Rd., San Jose.

Open Fridays noon to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4p.m.