ECV1850 Plaque:
The Bernal Adobe Site
And Bear Tree Lot


[ Photo of plaque wide. ]


[ Photo of plaque closeup. ]


THE BERNAL ADOBE SITE
AND BEAR TREE LOT
THIS PARCEL, KNOWN AS THE BERNAL ADOBE SITE, IS PART OF THE
RANCHO SANTA TERESA HISTORIC DISTRICT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
ANCESTORS OF MOWEKMA OHLONE INDIANS USED THIS AREA AS A LARGE PERMANENT
CEMETERY AND VILLAGE SITE AS LONG AS 3000 YEARS DUE IN PART TO THE
EXISTENCE OF NEAR BY SANTA TERESA SPRINGS. IN 1776, THE SPANISH EXPEDITON
OF JUAN BAUTISTA DE ANGA PASSED NEAR THIS AREA, BRINGING 14 YEAR OLD
POBLADORE (POPULATOR) JOSE JOAQUIN BERNAL (1762-1837). IN 1826 JOSE JOAQUIN
RETURNED TO THE AREA AND RECIEVED A 9647 ACRE LAND GRANT WHICH HE CALLED
RANCHO DE SANTA TERESA. BERNAL WAS ONE OF MANY RETIRED SPANISH SOLIDERS
FROM THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO AND PUEBLO DE SAN JOSE DE GUADALUPE
TO BE REWARDED WITH LARGE LAND GRANTS. THE GRANTS WERE GIVEN TO
INDIVIDUALS AFTER THE SECULARIZATION OF MISSION LANDS IN THE 1828'S.
THIS SITE IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE BEAR TREE LOT BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED TO
CONTAIN ONE OF THE GREAT OAKS TO WHICH BEARS WOULD BE TETHERED PRIOR TO
BEAR-BULL FIGHTS. THESE CONTESTS TOOK PLACE AS PART OF THE RODEOS HELD
DURING THE SPANISH-MEXICAN RANCHO ERA OF ALTA CALIFORNIA. JOSE JOAQUIN'S
GRANDSON, YGNACIO BERNAL (1841-1906) BUILT HIS HOME BESIDE A MILK HOUSE IN
THE CENTER OF THIS LOT. THIS SIGNIFICANT SITE BECOMES A PART OF SANTA TERESA
COUNTY PARK IN 1998. CALIFORNIA ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE CA-SCL-125;
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HERITAGE RESOURCE, SAN JOSE CITY LANDMARK.
DEDICATED OCTOBER 19, 1996
CALIFORNIA TRAILS AND GREENWAYS FOUNDATON
BOB BIGGS REALTOR, FRIENDS OF SANTA TERESA PARK
SANTA CLARA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
CHILDREN FROM OAK GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT
MOUNTAIN CHARLIE CHAPTER 1850
E CLAMPUS VITUS

"RIGHT WRONGS NOBODY"


Victorian Bar


The plaque is located on the outside perimeter fence of
Santa Teresa County Park
San Jose.
Santa Clara County, CA.


From HWY-101, take the Bernal Road exit West to the Santa Teresa County Park entrance.
Turn right on Heaton Moor Drive and keep going until you pass
the Bernal Intermediate School, where the name of the road changes to San Ignacio Ave.
Turn left on Curie Drive, and the monument is down about a block and a half on your left.
(Opposite the house at 277 Curie, between Radko Dr. and Korhummel Way.)

Alternate route:
From Blossom Hill Road, take Cottle Road south to Curie Drive.
Turn left on Curie Drive and go east to the monument.
(Opposite the house at 277 Curie, between Korhummel Way and Radko Dr.)


GPS
  The Bernal Adobe Site  
  and Bear Tree  
WGS84 Datum
N 37.22734°
W 121.79290°



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