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The Society held an appreciation event in honor of all of our endowment fund donors and museum volunteers. Carol Peters, retired Gilroy High School art teacher, presented a Power Point program about her father, Alfred (Curley) Tomey, a well-known blacksmith and self-taught artist. Examples of his silver bridles, bits, spurs and jewelry were on display. In recognition of Gilroy's "cowboy period" there was also poetry and music on Saturday, January 29th upstairs at Old City Hall, 7400 Monterey St., Gilroy (Lizarran Restaurant). The Society provided tapas and non-alcoholic beverages.
CURLEY TOMEY, COWBOY ARTIST
April 7, 1912 to March 14, 1977
By his daughter, Carol Peters
Well known as an artist in his day, his original, hand engraved silver belt buckles were in demand by the Professional Rodeo Riders in California and the Western States. After winning a World Championship Rodeo Title cowboys would come to Curley to have their title belt buckle made to their personal specifications.
Curley created many original pieces and it is believed he invented/ designed a unique type of spade or snaffle bit. He was always adapting things and making things that were new and unusual to fit a personal need or improve a situation. He also made the branding irons for most of the ranches in the Santa Clara Valley.
The creative side spilled out into music and Curley played the guitar, violin, harmonica and other instruments by ear. Curley got his name singing in a western band. He even made a record. Curley loved Gilroy and the people. Many of our residents still have his engravings and use the branding irons that Curley made. To this day his work is held in high regard and is becoming collectable
In mid-December we received a challenge from Warren Lindeleaf, our foremost benefactor. He said that if we could raise $10,000. for our endowment fund in 2010 he would match it! Did he know we were almost there???
You gave. We earned. We asked and you gave generously again!
To summarize our endowment fund raising efforts in 2010:
| Donations received by mid-November | ......... | $3875.00 |
| Earnings from eating at Mimi's, selling See's Easter candy, Bowl-a-thon, and from items sold at the Museum | ...... | $1822.60 |
| End of the year donations received from mid-Nov. through 12-31-10 | ...... | $4002.00 |
| Total | $9699.60 |
Katherine Tsujimoto donated several pieces of clothing from the Allemand family, including an exquisite wedding dress in ivory silk, vintage 1900, now on display.
Carol Peters will create a display of Curley Tomey's engraved items (spurs, bridles, bits, lighters, bracelets and pins) following our January program. These will be featured in the cases in the central hall at City Hall.
Phill Laursen has volunteered to create a long-awaited video tour of the Museum and will work with CMAP on the project. This will help us meet our handicapped access requirements and also be available as a DVD for use in the classroom and programs in the community.
DO YOU REMEMBER PICKING PRUNES?
The Last of the Prune Pickers is a new book written by Tim Stanley, a former Santa Clara County resident who has chronicled this important chapter of our past. He traces the history of our valley from the Ohlones through the development of the fruit-growing era in Part I and tells tales of a prune ranch in Part II. Although the book is not specifically about Gilroy, many of the stories will ring a bell with those who did pick prunes here. The cover photos were taken at the Orsetti Ranch on Buena Vista Ave. The book is now available at the Gilroy Museum and at Garlic City Books downtown for $22.00. For more information, visit http://www.2timothypublishing.com/lastoftheprunepickers.html
We are very sorry to report the death of Linda Burnett. She has been an important board member since 2006, creating our membership brochure, donation flyer and contributed many helpful ideas during her tenure.
August 24, 1944 - November 12, 2010 Linda Burnett, 66, native and life-time resident of Gilroy, passed away on Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was at home surrounded by friends and family. Linda is the daughter of Anna Burnett and Ray Burnett (deceased), sister of Clayton Burnett (Roni), aunt to Riley, and mother to Laramie, her beloved Australian Shepherd. She also had a large extended family not only blood related, but related by great love and friendship.
Linda was born and raised in Gilroy and attended Eliot, Jordan, Glen View, and Severance schools as well as Brownell Junior High. She graduated from Gilroy High School in 1962. She was raised on the old Castro Valley Ranch and was very active in 4-H, winning many blue ribbons for her livestock. She attended Fresno State and San Jose State University where she earned her teaching credential.
It was Gilroy's lucky day in 1968 when Linda was hired to teach at Brownell Junior High. She spent 37 years enriching the lives of Gilroy's youth. Throughout her career, she always implemented innovative methods of teaching and encouraged her students to be their very best. She continued her career at South Valley Middle School until 2005 when she retired. She was recognized as the MACSA Teacher of the Year in 2005. She leaves behind a lasting legacy of love and respect among her students and colleagues.
Linda's many interests included travel, cooking, photography, and tracing her Scottish ancestry. She founded the "Thinking and Drinking Ladies Book Club", was a member of the Gilroy Federation of Teachers, FRFG and served on the Board of the Gilroy Historical Society. She worked tirelessly for the passage of Measure F (Gilroy's new library) and the 2008 Obama campaign.
RESIDENTIAL PLAQUE PROGRAM IS IN PROGRESS
Kathy Hodgdon is doing a masterful job in organizing and sorting out the issues involved in creating a plaque program for local historic homes. Right now her committee is obtaining estimates on the cost of bronze or composite materials. If your home happens to be on the City's Historic Building Inventory* or you have information about the date of construction, you too could get a plaque to recognize the historic stature of your home. The committee has decided to keep it simple, the plaques will give the name of the home, the year built and say Gilroy Historical Society. For further information please contact Kathy Hodgdon at kathodgdon@hotmail.com
Please be sure to thank them the next time you're enjoying a meal out with the family!
BOWL-A-THON SUCCESS
By Linda White
[*requires Adobe Reader for viewing & printing]
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