Take A Moment Out and Read About the History of Saratoga Blacksmiths!
The attached presentation gives a quick overview on the roles of a blacksmith in 1850 as well as the blacksmiths that once worked in Saratoga. The information was
given in a presentation to the Saratoga Foothill Club as well as was part of a display in the Saratoga Library lobby.
Click here for the presentation: The History of Saratoga Blacksmiths
Giving Tuesday — November 29
National day of giving whether it is volunteer time or money. Your donation to the Saratoga Historical Foundation will go towards the building of the blacksmith exhibit. Donate today!
Click here to make a donation.
New Exhibit at the Saratoga Library
Forging a New Community--- the History of Saratoga Blacksmiths , a new exhibit opens December 1 in the lobby of the Saratoga library. The new
exhibit, created by the Saratoga History Museum, will run through January 31. Using photos and artifacts, the exhibit traces the history of
blacksmithing, one of the key positions in growing communities in the 1800s. As skilled craftspeople, blacksmiths using a forge and anvil could
bend metal and create important tools and services.
Transportation by horse or wagon depended on the blacksmith to be able to shoe horses and
repair wagons; nails, hinges, locks, gates, and other metal objects were needed for building structures; for creating or repairing crowbars,
axles, axes, plows, and other tools for agriculture; and repairing existing items such as household pots and pans.
The Saratoga Library is located at 13650 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga, CA. For more information, go up to www.saratogahistory.com or
call 408-867-4311.
New Lecture on “Past and Extant Farms in the Santa Clara Valley” by Andy Mariani
Santa Clara Valley, once known as the Valley of Heart's Delight is now known as Silicon Valley. How, when, and why did it change? The Saratoga Historical
Foundation presents, "Past and Extant Farms in the Santa Clara Valley" by Pioneer Agriculturist Andy Mariani on January 28 at 7:00 PM on Zoom. The talk covers a brief history of the
farming industry in the Santa Clara Valley, causes of its rapid decline, and profiles of some of the remaining farms, including their survival strategies,
as they face the challenges of the increasingly urbanized world of Silicon Valley.
Educated in both horticultural and behavioral science, Andy Mariani, who grew up in Cupertino, continues to grow fruit on his
family’s farm in Morgan Hill, but once pursued a career in city management and spent a year as Saratoga’s Administrative
Assistant. His farm grows specialty fruit with a national reputation for its quality.
The program will be on Zoom and can be reached by:
Click To Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 819 8944 2077
Passcode: 175559
Lecture by Author Robin Chapman: “The Valley of Heart's Delight: True Tales From Around the Bay” on March 14.
Saratoga Historical Foundation presents the newest lecture on her
book, "The Valley of Heart's Delight: True Tales from Around the Bay". Her talk will take place at the Saratoga Foothill Club on
March 14 at 7:00 PM. The Foothill Club is located at 20399 Park Place in Saratoga, CA.
Chapman will share glimpses of the intriguing true stories shes been
researching since she returned to her home state of California, from her
travels as a journalist. Did you know director Alfred Hitchcock once had an
estate in the hills above Saratoga, a residence that had a direct impact on
his screenplay for “The Birds”? That crooner Bing Crosby helped start a local
youth center? That the Santa Clara Valley was once home to an extensive
electric rail system used by early 20th century commuters? These are some
of the tantalizing tales she will share in her upcoming program.
Chapman’s newest book "The Valley of Heart's Delight: True Tales from Around the Bay," joins "California Apricots: The Lost Orchards of Silicon Valley," and "Historic Bay Area Visionaries" in a triple tribute to the vibrant stories of California. Chapman is a journalist who covered Washington D.C for more than a decade. Now back in the Golden State, she writes full time and gives lectures. Follow her at: robinchapmannews.blogspot.com.
New Exhibit: Bell, Book and Candle
The Saratoga History Museum's new exhibit,"Bell, Book, and Candle," is open and runs through December 31. The exhibit traces the history of the circuit riders of the 1850s and others who brought religion to Saratoga to the present. The exhibit highlights over 24 houses of worship including photos of some of the beautiful architecture of the houses of worship in Saratoga including two that started in prune sheds. There is a diversity of religion over the years reflecting the changes in the community.
The Saratoga History Museum is located at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road in Saratoga. The museum is open from 1-4 PM on Friday, 10-4 PM on Saturday and 1-4 PM on Sunday. Admission is free.
Blacksmith Exhibit Scheduled to Open 2023
A new blacksmith exhibit will open in 2023 demonstrating the work a blacksmith of the 1850s would have handled. Interactivity and sound effects will add to the ambience. Also planned
is a nonfunctional outhouse as part of the turn of the century theme of all the structures in the Saratoga Historical Park. All the structures, the McWilliams House, one-room
schoolhouse, museum, and soon the blacksmith exhibit are used to teach pioneer living as well as Saratoga's rich history.
If you would like to contribute to this exhibit, ($5000 contribution and higher and your name will be on a plaque on the outside of the exhibit)-- send your contribution
to:
Blacksmith Exhibit c/0 Saratoga Historical Foundation PO Box 172 Saratoga, CA 95071
Your donation is tax deductible.
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