ECV1850 Plaque:
The Steamboat Jenny Lind Disaster


Compass Rose atop Jenny Lind Monument

Compass Rose atop The Steamboat Jenny Lind Monument,
pointing in the general direction of the disaster site.

The Steamboat Jenny Lind Disaster Plaque



James Campbell's drawing of The Steamboat Jenny Lind detail

(James Campbell's drawing of The Steamboat Jenny Lind detail)


THE STEAMBOAT JENNY LIND DISASTER
 
   Beginning in the 1840s, the dock at Alviso served as Santa Clara County's access to the San Francisco Bay. From This Port, passengers
boarded steamboats loaded with goods and produce bound for san Francisco and points beyond. In the early days of the Californoia gold rush,
San Jose provided hay, lumber, and large amounts of food through this port.
   During the height of its shipping activity, Alviso experienced a devastating maritime disaster. On the eleventh of April in 1853, the steamer
Jenny Lind left Alviso bound for San Francisco. Midway through the voyage, steam trapped by a torn boiler pipe exploded outward through
the ship's furnace, scalding those who were in its path. residents of san Jose were stunned, as many of those killed had been leaders in their
community, and the incident is still remembered as a major tragedy.
   Soon After, business at the Port of Alviso began to suffer. The completion of the San Francisco-San Jose railroad in 1864 diverted most of
the passenger traffic from Alviso and hastened the port's decline. Although Alviso's commercial prominence faded, its past is forever linked
to the history of the ill-fated steamer, Jenny Lind.
The following are known to have perished in the Jenny Lind disaster
A Baudichon, age 35John S Bradbury, age 29Thomas J Kell, age 23Noah Ripley, age 50
Athalie Baudichon, age 32John Brady, age 25Francis H Macabee, age 27Sarah F Ripley, age 9
Blanche Baudichon, age 1Mr. Carpentier, age 46Bernard Murphy, age 35Christopher A Shelton, age 27
Charles Baudichon, age 5SF Drake, age 29Mrs. Sarah Ann Paige, age 34Jeremiah Van Buren, age 26
Adolf Behn, age 5Rosilla Emerson, age 32Sarah Anna Paige, age 8Jane B Winlack, age 35
CE Adolph Behn, age 39Thomas Godden, age 26Annie F Ripley, age 6Caleb Winsor, age 30
William Bell, age 24Jonas Hawkins, age 30Charles E Ripley, age 8Charles White, age 45
Franklin W Bosworth, age 26Jacob D Hoppe, age 37Mary Burtois Turk Ripley, age 30Roswell A Wyman, age 36
and others whose names shall never be known.
They were lost to tragedy, may they never be lost to history.

Dedicated in 2013 on the one hundred and sixtieth anniversary of the disaster by
Mountain Charlie Chapter 1850, E Clampus VitusSouth Bay Yacht Club
California Pioneers of Santa Clara CountyNative Daughters of the Golden West, Vendome Parlor No. 100
Free and Accepted Masons, San Jose Lodge No. 10Argonauts Historical Society
Native Sons of the Golden West, Observatory Parlor No. 177Yerba Buena Chapter 1, E Clampus Vitus


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This monument is located in the Alviso Marina County Park.
(Near the western end of the parking lot)
1195 Hope Street
Alviso.
Santa Clara County, California.

From Highway 237, take the First Street Exit and head north.
Turn right onto El Dorado, then turn left onto Catherine Street.
Cross the railroad tracks. (Watch for fast moving trains!)
Turn right onto Hope Street, and continue north to the Park.

The Park is open year-round from 8 am to sunset.
No fees are collected at this time.

GPS
  The Steamboat Jenny Lind Disaster Plaque  
WGS84 Datum
N 37.43005°
W -121.98035°

Info:
Santa Clara County Parks
(408) 355-2200
www.parkhere.org


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A special thanks to the generous folks at
Central Concrete Supply Co.
755 Stockton Ave.
San Jose, CA
1-(866) 404-1000
1-(408) 293-6272
www.centralconcrete.com
for donating the concrete for this monument.


And to everyone else whose contributions and tireless effort
made this important monument possible.



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Jenny Lind - 1840

Jenny Lind, popular opera singer of the time,
known as "The Swedish Nightingale,"
for whom the steamboat was named. - 1840


The Jenny Lind Gang

"The Jenny Lind Gang"
(L-R) Chris McKay, Claire Britton-Warren, and Russ Robinson

SATISFACTORY!


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Download and print your own copy of the event program:
Event Program page 1

Event Program page 2

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Here are some links to newspaper articles and some great photos of the event:

red ball "Ceremony set to remember 1853 Jenny Lind steamboat disaster" by Scott Herhold, San Jose Mercury News - April 9, 2013

red ball Jenny Lind Plaque Dedication Photos by LiPo Ching / Staff SJNMN

red ball "Monument honors victims of 1853 steamboat disaster" article by Lee Romney, Los Angeles Times - April 13, 2013




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