Though the site has lain dormant for more than 30 years, a small
collective of concerned citizens from throughout the region believe
that the old New Idria mining town and surrounding property still
have something to offer to locals and tourists alike.
Though the site has lain dormant for more than 30 years, a small collective of concerned citizens from throughout the region believe that the old New Idria mining town and surrounding property still have something to offer to locals and tourists alike.
Members of the New Idria Preservation Project, formed a little more than a year ago, intend to one day transform the ghost town into a public park. They hope the park will serve both as a new recreation spot in San Benito County as well as an important educational offering for those curious about one of the first mining towns in the county.
“We started with this grandiose idea of ‘Hey, let’s make New Idria into a park!'” said Ray Iddings, president of the project. “But going from an idea to actually getting some ground work done is difficult.”
Iddings was inspired to initiate the project after a conversation with friend Patricia Ashurst, who grew up in New Idria and remarked that she wished the site could be turned into a park. Enlisting her help as well as that of others who lived and worked in New Idria – including former Assemblyman Peter Frusetta, who wrote a book about the town – the project was incorporated in fall 2004.
“Somebody needed to step in,” Iddings said. “The place is almost gone. Many of the buildings are beyond hope, and some we can’t do anything for except try and arrest the decay. Some of it is still salvageable, though, and our project was formed in the nick of time, before we lost it all.”
New Idria, site of the fourth largest mercury mine in the entire world, was established as a California State Historic Landmark after its closure by virtue of the mining equipment on site – much of it dating back to the mid-19th century and in good condition. While much of the land is privately owned, Iddings says that many owners are receptive to the possibility of donating land for a park, or at least selling low. Vandalism has become such a problem on the site than many owners are willing to do almost anything to see the land cleaned up again, he said.
“The vandalism is really an issue,” Iddings said. “There’s garbage everywhere, windows are broken, people use the area for target practice… and many of the historical artifacts that were left have been taken.”
Those involved with the project have been actively searching for artifacts from the mining town’s heyday, though most items were sold in a commercial auction shortly after the mercury mine closed, according to Mark Ward, who served as the resident manager of the mine in its final days.
Though New Idria has a reputation as a dangerous site due to pollution and mercury poisoning, Iddings says the actual danger has been largely exaggerated.
“There are one or two acres on an 880-acre site that are a problem,” he said. “It’s not dangerous to humans, but it’s no good for the environment. But if the state or county were willing to get a scientist in there and see what the trouble is, we could fix it, or at least get it fenced off.”
County officials, however, while not entirely opposed to the idea of a New Idria park, are decidedly more cautious about the matter.
“We’ve been presented with a preliminary proposal and I’ve done some research,” said Supervisor Reb Monaco. “It may be possible and the site certainly has historic value, but it’s very isolated, and you get back to the issue of contamination… I don’t know to what level the county will be involved with that project.”
Ideally, Iddings hopes the land could be turned into a park within the next 10 years, complete with a small museum and opportunities for restaurants, gift shops and bike, glider or ATV rentals.
“How many places can you go horseback riding if you don’t have your own property, or go hang-gliding?” he said. “The site is only 45 minutes away from Highway 5, and more people travel down that highway every day than there are in San Benito County. There are some real opportunities in New Idria.”
The New Idria Preservation Project will be focused on fundraising efforts in 2006, as well as acquiring legal advice on how best to acquire the land in question.
“There’s a lot of fairy tales about New Idria, and there’s some fact in there,” former mine manager Ward said. “But mostly it’s got a lot of history, and it’s too bad that it may go down the tubes. It deserves some recognition from the current generation, because there aren’t too many of us old buggers around any more.”
Anyone who wishes to donate money, time or artifacts to the preservation effort, or who have stories to share about New Idria are encouraged to contact the project through their Web site at http://www.new-idria.org.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com
