ALMADENS QUICKSILVER COUNTY PARK

The Almaden Valley neighborhood is south east of Los Gatos, west of Santa Teresa, and south of Coleman Ave. It is named after the New Almaden Mines, which were named after the mercury mine in (old) Almaden, Spain. Like its Spanish namesake, California's Almaden had a number of quicksilver mines. The mercury was used during gold extraction in the California Gold Rush.

The mines were closed in 1975 and have since been converted into Almaden Quicksilver County Park.You have to travel down Almaden Road to reach the park's main entrance. The New Almaden Historic District is located along Almaden Road before the park's Hacienda Entrance.

There are a number of historic houses and buildings which you will pass on the way down.The history of the town is intimately linked with the mining history of the park. Many of the people who managed or worked for the mines lived in New Almaden and many of their houses still remain. The Alamitos Creek cuts through the town. On the south side of Alamitos Creek is Bertram Road. Several historical sites lie along the road, including the Hacienda Hotel site, the New Almaden Community Club, and the Hacienda Cemetery.

The Hacienda Hotel was built in 1848 as a boarding house for miners. It was the first two-story hotel in California. In the 1930's, it was converted into the Cafe Del Rio, which was a popular restaurant. After 1979, it became the home of the La Foret French restaurant.

Down the road past the Community Club is the Hacienda Cemetery. It has graves dating back to the 1800's. Bertram Barrett's is one of the oddest graves there. Bertram Barrett was an Almaden Valley teenager who lost his arm in a hunting accident in 1898. His arm alone is buried here in this cemetery. The rest of him was buried in another cemetery in San Jose's Oak Hill Cemetery in 1959. The reason for this is a mystery. Its fascinating history and booming economy makes Almaden like many of its neighbouring valleys a sought after place to settle down in.