Entries from April 2009 ↓

Reginald Dauner, left, with his dog who fetched the balls. Dauner was on the Pastime Baseball team in San Jose, 1908.

April is the beginning of event season at History Park.

It’s been a busy month with Master Gardener’s Spring Garden Market, Bombs United Car Show, and the 25th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Chapter Volkswagen Spring Meet.

The car shows at History Park are very popular with approximately 5000 guests and over 300 show car. Each event had a little something for everyone for a fun family outing- cool cars, plants, shopping & yummy food. With the aroma of barbeque in the air, sounds of engines roaring, and sights of kids eating freshly made popcorn from Tony’s cart made for familiar sights & sounds for our annual family events.

Car Show at History Park

I say you can always judge how successful a show is by how long of a line the Museum Cafe at O’Brien’s Candy Store has, and it was out the door for majority of the day for each event.

With many more events to come there’s still plenty of opportunities to bring your family down for a day at the Park.  Visit our calendar to see what is coming up this summer!

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Juanita Lara,
Event Coordinator

Hi everyone,

Beauty and Barney Bee here!  We’re fluffy Italian bees who live in a hive at History Park. We’re busy everyday flitting around the Park visiting all the lovely flowers in the flower gardens. Steve Demkowski our “keeper” makes sure we are well tended to by the 4-H children who work with him. They were out visiting us the other day making sure we would have enough food to hold us till more flowers and blossoms were out. Jane from the Junior League of San Jose even put on a bee keepers hat to film Steve and the children while they were feeding us – yum.

We also heard that because Steve has taken such good care of us and helped people learn more about how important we are, he is getting a Crystal Bowl award the Junior League Volunteer Recognition Luncheon today. We are very excited for him and for us. The whole hive is buzzing with the news.

Steve Demkowski and children feeding “hungry” bees after long winter.

“Hey Beauty, maybe we could hitch a ride in someone’s car up to the luncheon so we could see Steve get his award!  We might even see ourselves in the video Jane took.”

“Oh Barney, people luncheons aren’t any fun for bees – we need to stay at the park to keep gathering the nectar from all the flowers and besides, we might get lost and not find our way back to History Park.”

“Say Beauty – maybe we should tell people about the fabulous honey Steve gathers from our hives.”

“That’s a good idea Barney – we could also tell them that the honey is sold in the Museum Store at History Park and  they should start eating a spoonful each day to help prevent summer allergies.”

“Beauty that’s good information but I’m ready to get back to the hive.”

“Okay, Barney, maybe someone will have a question to ask us when they read about us.”

“Well, Beauty, I think we’ll be ready to answer all questions.”

All that’s left after 3 weeks camping, Alum Rock, California, August 2, 1894.

Happy Earth Day!

Sarah Puckitt, Curator

Even though this area is now known as Silicon Valley, the Valley of Heart’s Delight is evident every spring.  A myriad of fruit trees burst into bloom and as the wind picks up, we get our snowfall – fragrant and gentle. From memories of the residents that grew up here, I feel the nostalgia of a time and a lifestyle that has come to pass. I know it through photographs from our collection and through the snow that lands on my windshield.

This photograph was taken by Andrew Putnam Hill around 1900. The caption reads: Nine Year old Royal Anne Cherry Tree on Orchard of H. Postlethwaite near Santa Clara, Cal.

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Sarah Puckitt
Curator