HISTORY OF ALMADEN VALLEY

This area was once populated by Indians who lived off the rich land. The streams contained trout and in early spring steelhead worked their way into the valley from the San Francisco Bay. Game was abundant and fruit and vegetables grew wild.

In 1795 the King of Spaindeeded to Joaquin Bernal the 10,000 acre Santa Teresa Land Grant which encompasses a good part of Almaden Valley. Bernal branded 5000 head of cattle yearly. The meat from these Mexican steers was often buried because the real value in the animal was in the hide and tallow which was freighted to the ports of Monterey and San Francisco and there loaded aboard Spanish galleons.

In the year 1830 only one hundred Americans inhabited all of Santa Clara Valley which was first discovered by the Portola Expedition.

The Almaden Valley and hills sprang to life in November of 1845 with the discovery of quick silver. The Almaden Mines were the first quick silver mines in America and during the many years of operation, it produced over 70 million dollars in revenue.

Almaden broke an international monopoly. Before the discovery of the Cyanide Process in 1887, quick silver was the chief reduction agent for gold and silver. Whoever controlled the quick silver, also controlled the gold and market.

New Almaden with its quick silver kept California in the Union and when she became a state in 1850, following the 1849 gold rush, San Jose was selected as the first State Capital.

During the peak years of production, the notorious outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez would occasionally rob the stage of the ore as well as fleece the passengers. He was eventually captured near Tres Pinos and tried and hanged in San Jose in 1875.

The miners average pay was sixty dollars a month. On pay day the saloons did well. In 1896 six pretty ladies rode the train down to San Jose from San Francisco and caught the noon stage out to New Almaden. Their intentions were to ply their trade amongst the miners on this particular pay day. All went well on the dusty miners on the dusty journey until the stage coach hit a deep rut at the intersection of Almaden and Redmond Roads. The front axle on the stage sheared in two and of course that created some delay. The rancher farming the 1/4 section of land adjacent to the intersection feeling a strong sense of compassion invited the ladies into his home for supper. He felt mortally wounded when his wife refused to serve them,

The Southern Pacific Railroad in 1886 ran a branch out to Almaden. The depot and terminal was located on McKean Road, 200 yards east of Almaden Road. This line enabled equipment and supplies to be shipped close to the mines and also provided for hay and products from the local farms to be hauled into San Jose.

The local schools in the valley were Oak Grove, Valley View and Pioneer, plus one on the hill at Spanish Town and one at New Almaden. The school superintendent would once a year pay each school a visit to ascertain if the teachers were doing a good job. Almost always they anticipated his time of arrival, which was usually noon. They would ply him with fried chicken, potato salad and apple pie. His report to the trustees most always was good.

The Almaden Valley during the early years had some service organizations. There was the Grange who donated food for the needy. The Willing Workers was a group of farm ladies who during the Civil and Spanish American wars made blanket quilts, knitted sweaters and socks for the troops. In New Almaden there was the Helping Hand Club made up of business-professional men and mine officials.

Many of our valley roads are named for some of the early pioneers.

One of the valley's earliest industries was Almaden Vineyards. Its many years of success was due to the fact that it never sacrificed quality for quantity.

The Almaden Valley and San Jose was a pastoral fruit and vegetable packing and canning center for rich orchards and farmlands of the Santa Clara Valley.

The Valley of Heart's Delight (Santa Clara Valley) in 1994 the 80,000 citizens, most of them descendants of early settlers who came west before 1900 were primarily interested in our nation's efforts to win World War II. The city fathers at that time were endeavoring to bring modern industry to the valley. In July 1944 General Electric announce plans for a manufacturing plant on a 57 acre site on Monterey Road. Other companies, IBM, FMC, Burke Rubber and many other multi-national companies including banking have moved into the valley.

The valley today harvests cherries, apricots, prune-plums, almonds and walnuts. The farm acreage is being reduced yearly. The valley of Heart's Delight is assuming a new role. The Almaden Valley today is a Valley of Urban Development.