Glossary

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A.D.M. Cooper: Astley David Middleton Cooper (1856 – 1924); prominent San José artist known for his portraits, still lifes, and saloon paintings. He was also well known for his often outlandish and flamboyant behavior.

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Almaden Expressway: Six-lane expressway built to link downtown San José with the growing suburban communities in Almaden, which boomed in the years after World War II. The Expressway’s first link opened in 1959.

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Arroyo Tulares de las Canoas: The Spanish name for the creek at the foot of Dairy Hill, meaning “Tulares Creek of the Canoes.” Today it is called Canoas Creek.

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Asbestos: Common name for any of a variety of silicate minerals groups that are fibrous in structure and more or less resistant to acid and fire. Asbestos is usually found comprising veins in other rock.

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Ayrshire Cattle: A strong rugged breed which originated in the County of Ayr in Scotland prior to 1800; introduced in the United States in 1822. Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle with red and white coloration, and weigh over 1200 pounds at maturity. Ayrshires are prized for their ability to rustle and forage for themselves under adverse feeding or climatic conditions. The Ayrshire is handsome and an extremely useful and profitable dairy cow.

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Berkshire Swine: Originally bred in England, this breed was the swine of choice for the British royal family for hundreds of years. Berkshires were first brought to the United States in 1823. Their coloration is black with white hooves, white line in the face, and white splash on the tail. Mature hogs weigh between 500 and 650 pounds. Breeders of purebred Berkshires take great pride in the purity of their stock.

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Chert: Hard, dense sedimentary rock, composed of interlocking quartz crystals and possibly amorphous silica (opal); synonymous with flint. Chert makes up about two thirds of the Santa Clara Valley geologic base.

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Chinese Associations: Support organizations founded by Chinese immigrants to the United States. Associations were organized based on family or fraternal relations. They provided a multitude of services in the Chinese community, including funeral arrangements, job connections, and social networking.

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Diablo Range: Part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, it extends for some 180 miles from Mt. Diablo east of Oakland to the northern end of the Temblor Range in Kern County. The Diablo Range is the western wall of the Central Valley.

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Diseño: In the context of California history, a Mexican or Spanish map, generally noting natural features of the land, some structures, and approximate boundaries.

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Disinter: To dig up or remove from a grave or tomb; exhume.

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Donner Party: The infamous group of overland migrants trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the winter of 1846-1847. Forty-six of the eighty-one members of the party perished. Many of the survivors settled in San José.

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El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe: The first Spanish civil settlement in Alta California, founded in 1777. The town is named for Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the original pobladores (settlers), and for the Guadalupe River.

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Essex Swine: No longer bred in the United States, the Essex is a small-to-medium sized black hog, weighing 250 to 400 pounds at maturity. It gains weight easily and can live well in hot climates.

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“Grandma” Bascom: Clara Bascom arrived in the Santa Clara Valley in the fall of 1849. She was married to Dr. Louis Hazleton Bascom. “Grandma” Bascom’s boarding house lodged many of the representatives during the first meeting of the California State Legislature in San José in 1850. She was well known for her hospitality.

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Hillsdale Station: Southern Pacific Railroad train station located just south of Dairy Hill on Monterey Road. The branch line to New Almaden started at this station. It was renamed the Lick Station for philanthropist James Lick, who gave $700,000 for the construction of Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton.

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Holstein Cows: The Holstein cow originated in Europe and was introduced to the United States in 1852. The cow is noted for its black and white or red and white markings and outstanding milk production. A mature Holstein cow weighs about 1500 pounds and stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder.

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Holy Ghost Festivals: The most important festival celebrated by Portuguese communities in California. The festival pays tribute to the Holy Ghost and features a parade, Portuguese foods, and a queen with her court. Holy Ghost Festivals are typically held in the spring and summer, with each California community choosing a different weekend to celebrate.

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Jersey Cows: The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel, and was introduced to the United States in the 1850s. The color in Jerseys may vary from a very light gray color to a very dark brown or a shade that is almost black. With an average weight of 900 pounds, the Jersey produces more pounds of milk per pound of body weight than any other breed.

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Pacific Coast Ranges: The series of mountain ranges that stretch along the west coast of North America from Alaska to Mexico. The character of the Pacific Coast Ranges varies considerably along their length, from the record-setting glaciers in the ranges of Alaska, to the low rugged and scrub-covered hills of southern California.

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Pasteurization: The process of heating a beverage or other food, such as milk or beer, to a specific temperature for a specific period of time in order to kill microorganisms that could cause disease, spoilage, or undesired fermentation. Devised by Frenchman Louis Pasteur, this process both ensures the safety of milk products and increases their shelf-life.

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Pekin Duck: A large, white domestic duck; the most popular market breed in the United States. The Pekin breed is of Chinese origin and was first imported to the United States about 1873.

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Perennial Bunchgrass: Any of several grasses, especially of the western United States, that grow in tufts. The perennials are adapted to the cycle of drought and rain in California, dying back at the end of each winter, but leaving their root systems intact over seasons or even years until the rain returns.

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“Retired” Cows: Dairy cows are “retired” after they stop producing milk. A dairy cow typically starts producing milk around age three with the birth of her first calf. She will continue producing milk, along with a calf each year, for about six to eight years. “Retired” cows are either sold for beef or slaughtered on the ranch to feed the hands.

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Room and Board: Sleeping quarters and food for hired hands. In the dairy business, room and board were often provided in addition to a cash wage. The “room” was often in a small bunkhouse; “board” typically meant three hearty meals a day.

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Saint John the Baptist: Biblical preacher who baptized Jesus of Nazareth and attested to him as the Messiah. June 24 is his feast day.

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St. Joseph Parish: The parish serving the city of San José from the town’s founding in 1777. The parish’s first church was built on the town plaza in 1803. The Cathedral Basilica of San José, located at the 1803 church site, is the parish’s current seat.

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Santa Clara Valley: Approximately 15 miles wide and 30 miles long, the Valley is situated at the southern end of San Francisco Bay and bounded by the Coast Range Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range Mountains to the east.

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Santa Cruz Mountains: Part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, they form a 70-mile-long ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south, bordering Monterey Bay and ending at the Salinas Valley.

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Secular: Not specifically relating to a religion or religious body.

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Serpentine Rock: A mineral or rock consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia. It is usually of an obscure green color, often with a spotted appearance resembling a serpent's skin, but may also be reddish, yellowish, black, or nearly white. It has a greasy or silky luster and is often translucent, even in large masses.

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Sterilization: The process of making something free from live bacteria or other microorganisms. Sterilization of milk bottles and other containers is necessary to prevent the re-introduction of bacteria or other harmful organisms after pasteurization.

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Tectonic Shift: Refers to plate tectonics, the geologic theory which explains the motion of the earth’s seven plates towards, away from or beside each other.