Santa Teresa Library's First Birthday Celebration
February 5, 2011
On February 5, 2011, the Santa
Teresa Branch Library celebrated its first birthday. It celebrated its
grand opening on February 6, 2010. Members of the Friends of Santa
Teresa Park, Mike Boulland and Maureen Kluska, worked with library
Branch Manager Ruth Barefoot and library staff members to organize the
celebration. The Santa Teresa Library traces its name to Rancho Santa
Teresa, the historic ranch founded by Jose Joaquin Bernal in pre-Gold
Rush California. A small part of the original ranchland is preserved in
nearby Santa Teresa County Park and its Santa Teresa Historic Area.
Many of the displays and presentations talked about Santa Teresa Park,
activities in the park, and its history.
Members of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park (FOSTP) setup displays on
Santa Teresa Park.
Justice Paul Bernal, whose
ancestors founded the Rancho Santa Teresa in the 1800's, sets up his
displays of historic artifacts and pictures. He had clothing for kids
to dress up as Spanish soldiers from the early rancho days. Rancho
Santa Teresa originally covered nearly 10,000 acres and included the
Santa Teresa Hills and the land under the library.
Sam Drake sets up his table on geocaching, a popular outdoor activity.
FOSTP members Kitty Monahan (left)
and Maureen Kluska (right) arrange the displays, which includes a model
of the original Bernal Ranch of the 1800's. In the back are posters
with pictures by Ron Horii of activities and scenery at Santa Teresa
County Park.
Members of the Friends of the Santa Teresa Library welcome new members
along with library mascot, Conroy Cougar.
Visitors meet Conroy Cougar.
In the Community Room, Kitty Monahan visits the Santa Clara County Park
rangers, who setup a display
and pass out literature
on the County Parks, including Santa Teresa Park.
FOSTP President Mike Boulland shows the displays on Rancho Santa Teresa
to Conroy Cougar with librarians Carole Chisvin and Lucia
Farnham-Hudson in the background.
Quilts by the Quilters of Southside Community Center
Paul Bernal shows off his rancho artifacts.
Mike Boulland points out a model of the bull and bear fights that were
held at Rancho Santa Teresa in the early rancho days.
Pictures of the old Santa Teresa library (see below).
Paul Bernal helps a young Spanish soldier get dressed.
The Quilters display their crafts, while the Dazzling Divas prepare to
perform in the Community Room.
The Dazzling Divas put on a tap-dancing performance.
Nature crafts in the children's area.
District 2 Councilmember Ash Kalra talks to one of the librarian
Rachel Collier.
Marcus Gemellos from A New Twist holds the attention of kids and
parents alike with his balloon sculpture.
Conroy Cougar sketches caricatures of the kids.
Historic aerial picture, taken 6/13/68, of the Santa Teresa Area,
showing the location of Santa Teresa Library. At the bottom are
the ranches that make up the current site of the Santa Teresa Park
Historic Area.
Library manager Ruth Barefoot (right) talks to recuperating library
customer Dawn.
Carol Stuart, library volunteer, reads to children.
Illustrator Jennifer Morillo and author Matt Beasley of children's book
Birds of a Different
Feather, speak with Lucia Farnham-Hudson.
Sam Drake shows his panoramic picture of the Bay Area from Santa Teresa
Park's Bernal Hill.
Maureen Kluska shows historic artifacts.
Author Mike Boulland and illustrator Kate Tyler tell stories of legends
and ghosts at Santa Teresa Park.
Sam Drake gives a slideshow
presentation and demonstration on
geocaching. Geocaching is like a high-tech treasure hunt, which uses
GPS receivers to find hidden caches.
The Santa Teresa area and Santa Teresa Park contain dozens of
geocaches. There is one at the Santa Teresa Library. After his
presentation, Sam leads a group outdoors to search for it.
At the FOSTP table (from left): Maureen Kluska, Mike Boulland, Ed
Jackson, Kitty Monahan, and Elaine Drake.
After giving a slideshow presentation on Santa Teresa Park (see links),
Ron Horii (left), joins the FOSTP table.
The Tenor Band played old-time favorite dance music.
On Feb. 6, 2010, the Santa Teresa Library re-opened after it was torn
down and rebuilt.
San Jose
mayor Chuck Reed, Assemblyman Jim Beall, Library Commissioner Tony
Nguyen, District 2 Councilmember Ash
Kalra, Library Foundation President Terry Austin, and former District 2
Councilmember Forrest Williams at the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony.
Old Santa Teresa Library
The pictures below are of the old Santa Teresa Library, taken by
Lorraine Osaki-Horii in 1983-1984.
The old Santa Teresa Library under construction, June 1983.
The old library in December of 1983.
The old Santa Teresa Library, on 10/18/84, a month before it opened.
Inside the children's section of the newly-opened library on November
18, 1984.