Many of the places in The Valley have significance. Here is a short list of some of the more colorful ones.
AGNEW- These 1650 acres of Rancho Ulistac were the site of the state hospital for the insane. It was established in 1885, and had a Post Office and a Railroad depot. (Recently, Lorie Garcia, the Santa Clara Historian, pointed out to me that "The Train Depot which is standing at Agnews today, is the original depot built by the South Pacific Coast RR (narrow gauge) in 1878. It is the only depot reaming from that line .) Most of the hospital was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake, where 125 were killed, but was rebuilt. The "West Barracks" were located in what is now North East Santa Clara. Today most of that site has become a campus for the Sun Microsystems Corporation. The rest has been developed to include housing, a park, a police substation, a fire station, a shopping center with a Safeway store, and an elementary school named for Don Callejon. This has been a real big issue in this community. A copy of a Metro article is here. Andy Frazer has taken some excellent photos, that can be seen here, and, Sun's side of the story is here. (I also have a copy of Govenor Gray Davis' message announcing the sale, and will put it up soon.)
What was the "East Barracks" is still a "Development Center". They operate 37 buildings on the site, and lease 15 more off of the site. There site is here.
THE ALAMEDA- which means "beautiful way" was planted by Father Catala and the Indians in 1799, with three rows of willows to connect Mission Santa Clara with Pueblo of San Jose. This road has seen all modes of transit, carreta, omnibus, horse-car, steam, electric streetcars and automobiles. Before the city turned its back on this area, it was a beautiful street of stately mansions. (This Father Catala is no relation to the current Director of Vocations for The Diocese of San Jose.)
AGRICULTURAL PARK- Now long gone, this was the old County Fairgrounds. It was located on The Alameda, near Hester. The 76 acres were bought in 1859 from General Naglee for $6,000.00.It had bicycle racing, ballooninig, concessions, and circuses. This was where the public first saw Barney Oldfield drive an automobile at 60 miles per hour.
ALMA- This charming little mountain town three miles above Los Gatos was founded by Lystander Collins in 1862. A post office was built in 1872. It was on the Santa Cruz Railroad and was a busy shipping point for lumber, mountain fruits and grapes. The town has eight sawmills nearby, and a store, hotel and saloons. The railroad was discontinued in 1940 and the town was covered by the waters of Lexington Dam.
NEW ALMADEN- means the mine. New is proper because the original is in Spain. Valley indians first used the red cinnabar to paint their faces and bodies. The first ore was recognized in 1854, but land was explored, and claimed by Sunol, Robles and Chabolla.
The above was on the original site. Recently, Art Boudreault, of the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, sent this information: "New Almaden: (Of Persian origin) Named for Almaden, Spain, Almaden means "the mine". The red ore, cinnabar, was first discovered by Europeans in 1824, when Sunol noticed that the Indians were using the powdered ore to decorate the Santa Clara Mission. Sunol's efforts to prove the ore was silver failed. Captain Andres Castilleros visited the mission on his way to convince Sutter to leave Alta California. Castilleros did a test to see if the powder was quicksilver. Upon his success he claimed the area surrounding the cave where the Indians were finding the ore. He registered his claim in December, 1845."
ALUM ROCK- The park was confirmed by the King of Spain as public lands in 1779, and by Legislature as a public park in 1872. It was named by J.M. Ogan because of a 200 foot alum bearing rock at canyon entrance. Only a few of the original 15 mineral springs still flow. They were highly regarded by many pioneers as tonics and curatives.
ALVISO- was named for Ygnacio Alviso, the owner of Rancho Delos Esteros (corner of estuary). It was called Embarcadero de Santa Clara from 1835 to 1849 because Dons exported hides there to the East coast via sailing vessels. After gold days, it saw a lively export of grain, quicksilver, and fruit by barge and ship. In 1849, the fare was $35.00 from San Francisco to Alviso, plus $10.00 more for stage to San Jose. It was incorporated in 1852. The coming of the railroad in 1865 ended prosperity, but it is still picturesque.
AUSTRIAN GULCH- An ambitious colony of naturalized Austrian-Germanss established themselves (1870's) on the slopes of Mount Umunhum, a South Valley peak. They planted orchards, vineyards, and built a stone winery. For some time they prosppered. In 1899, an unprecedented cloudburst swept all completely away including winery. This poured hundreds of barrels of wine in to Los Gatos Creek coloring it red all the way to the Town of Los Gatos. The property is now owned by The San Jose Water Company.
AZULE- This spring and mountain section is in Saratoga's Mount Eden district. Azule means "blue" probably due to heavy growth of wild lilac or ceanothus. (I drove down Highway Nine through this area last week and was saddened to see that "Ace's Liquor Store" has closed.)
BELL STATION- This little village at the West end of The Pacheco Pass was a stage stop, and had a toll gate and a post office. It was named for L.F. Bell who arrived in 1850. Today, the only noticeable thing in the area is the Caltrans Maintenance Yard.
BERRYESA- The area in the neighborhood of Capitol Avenue and Berryessa Road. It was once pueblo land named for hard luck Don Nicholas Berryessa who claimed this territory.
BURBANK- An older section of West San Jose that was named in honor of Luther Burbank, the great horticulturalist. For some reason, which I have been unable to figure out, the pioneers called this area "Rose Lawn".
BURRELL- This area was named for Lyman Burrell who was a 49'er who homsteaded a settlement near the Santa Cruz Mountain Summit.
CALABAZAS- This small creek in the western p[art of the valley originates in the Saratoga Hills and wanders its way to Alviso. Calabazas means squash or pumpkin, and the creek was given this name because the Indians along the creek cultivated and sold these to early pioneer settlers.
CALAVERAS- The name means skull. Probably named by Spaniards because of many skeletons found in this Milpitas hill section, allegedly scenes of early Indian tribal battles.
CAMBRIAN PARK (Village)- This area is well known in the valley. The name comes
from the ancient name for Wales. The area has been known as Cambrian Park and
Cambrian Village. Freeway 85 cuts through the center of the neighborhood, but it is
still a great place to live.
CAMPBELL- The town was laid out in 1885 by Benjamin Campbell, a 49'er who subdivided his 167 acre wheat farm.
CANOAS CREEK This creek supplied water to San Jose 1797 to 1850. It ran from Rancho Teresa into The Guadlupe River. On account of the floods, it was diverted from what is now The Willow Glen area in to Upper Guadlupe.