Almaden in San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Wood Road & Jacques Ridge
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 9, 2012
1. Wood Road & Jacques Ridge Marker
[Photo captions; top, left to right:]
A teamster hauls wood along Wood Road for furnaces at the Hacienda Reduction Works. In 1892, teamsters were paid $35 per month plus board.
Photograph courtesy Robert Bulmore.
Hacienda Furnaces required up to 300 cords of wood per month. It was 4.5 miles down Wood Road to the furnaces.
Photograph courtesy S.J. Hawes.
Current location of the sandstone quarry along Wood Road. The Quicksilver Mining Company found substantial deposits in 1884 and used this stone at the Buena Vista Shaft house.
Photograph 2008 by Art Boudreault.
[Photo caption, bottom:]
A modern panorama of Wood Road and the western side of Jacques Ridge, looking north. Above Jacques Ridge is Los Capitancillos Ridge. This is a good view of the Sandstone Quarry and the modern 35-ton rotary furnace.
Photograph by Art Boudreault.
A teamster hauls wood along Wood Road for furnaces at the Hacienda Reduction Works. In 1892, teamsters were paid $35 per month plus board.
Photograph courtesy Robert Bulmore.
Hacienda Furnaces required up to 300 cords of wood per month. It was 4.5 miles down Wood Road to the furnaces.
Photograph courtesy S.J. Hawes.
Current location of the sandstone quarry along Wood Road. The Quicksilver Mining Company found substantial deposits in 1884 and used this stone at the Buena Vista Shaft house.
Photograph 2008 by Art Boudreault.
[Photo caption, bottom:]
A modern panorama of Wood Road and the western side of Jacques Ridge, looking north. Above Jacques Ridge is Los Capitancillos Ridge. This is a good view of the Sandstone Quarry and the modern 35-ton rotary furnace.
Photograph by Art Boudreault.
[Side-bar on left:]
In 1994, the Santa Clara County Parks partnered with the Mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District to purchase 907 acres known as Jacques Ridge for $6.65 million dollars. The California Department of Parks and Recreation supplied a $230,000 grant to help insure that deer and mountain lions inhabiting the area were provided with a permanent home. The purchase straddles Hicks Road, thus connecting New Almaden Quicksilver County Park with the Mount Unumhum area of the Sierra Azul Open Place Preserve. One and one-half miles long, the Jacques Ridge purchase also provided a vital link in the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Photograph courtesy John Slenter.
Erected by New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1876.
Location. 37°
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Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mine Hill (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Rossi Retort (approx. 0.9 miles away); Mining Operations (approx. one mile away); Santa Isabel Shaft (approx. 1.1 miles away); SpanishTown (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Main Tunnel (approx. 1.1 miles away); English Camp School (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Yellow Kid (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 9, 2012
2. Wood Road & Jacques Ridge Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 957 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 19, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
