Ghost Tour

Santa Teresa and Almaden

October 25, 2008

The Kiwanis Club of Almaden Valley sponsors a project called the Turnaround Scholarship Fund. It recognizes and provides scholarships to high school students who have turned their lives around. As a fundraiser for the scholarship fund, on October 25, 2008, the Kiwanis sponsored a ghost tour, led by Mike Boulland. Mike is a retired teacher, the president of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park, a docent at the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, and the co-author of a book on New Almaden. The tour began in the parking lot near the Country Inn Cafe at Camden and Almaden Expressway.

Mike Boulland showed historical artifacts and posters as the guests arrived.

Daniel Burns, who portrayed early settler Jose Berryessa, passes out coins, a rancho tradition for greeting guests.

Martha (left) from the Kiwanis, helped to organize the event.

Mike shows a model of a bull-and-bear fight, such as was staged at Rancho Santa Teresa in the rancho era.

The bus was late because of an address mix-up, so Mike told stories in the Country Inn Cafe.

The bus showed up eventually. We had permission to cut through IBM's Almaden Research Center to reach Santa Teresa Park. The first stop was at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch in Santa Teresa Park.

Park interpreter John Dorrance talked about the ranch and its history.

The group went into the barn at the ranch and saw a presentation on the ranch.

The group walked up to Santa Teresa Spring.

The pond at Santa Teresa Spring.

Jeannie Carevic portrayed the Black-Robed Woman of Indian legend that inspired the legend of Santa Teresa.

The group left the spring and went back into the bus. The bus crossed back over the hills to New Almaden.

At the Casa Grande in New Almaden, Park interpreter Mary Berger talked about her encounters with ghosts. New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association president and docent Kitty Monahan (above center) gave a tour of the mine office at the Casa Grande.

Group looking at the mining exhibits in the museum.

Dinner was held at the New Almaden Community Club. It included tri-tip and chicken prepared by Jennifer De Ghuee. Other volunteers helped to serve dinner.

Pumpkins were used as vases for the centerpieces.

Park interpreter John Slenter (right) helped serve drinks.

During dinner, a slideshow and videos were shown. Above is a janitor at Bernal School talking about seeing ghosts while cleaning up the school.

Cake, cookies, and drinks were served.

After dinner, we walked down Bertram Road to the Hacienda Cemetery. As we got there, we heard screaming from headless ghouls.

Mike telling tales at the gates of the cemetery.

One of the stories was about Bertram Barrett, whose arm (and not his body) is buried in the cemetery. Legend has it that his arm can be seen moving about searching for its body.

After touring the cemetery, we returned to the bus, which returned us to parking lot by the Country Inn Cafe.

Credits:

Organizations: Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation Dept., New Almaden Community Club, New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association, Friends of Santa Teresa Park, IBM, Kiwanis Club of Almaden Valley, Leland High School volunteers
Cooking and dining: Jennifer De Ghuee, Mike De Ghuee, Sam De Ghuee, Rachael De Ghuee, Kitty Monahan, Robbie Lamos, Bill Jones, Dorene Boulland, Dot Wilson