The Gold Rush brought tens of thousands of people to California looking to get rich quick. The population of Santa Clara Valley exploded with American, Chinese, and European immigrants. While most prospectors found nothing, many made a profit by providing this new population of immigrants with services and goods.
These entrepreneurs took advantage of the Santa Clara Valley’s resources in order to meet local demand. One of these many industries included capturing the mineral water from local springs.
Santa Clara College was also founded during the Gold Rush, to serve the growing population of the valley. Nineteenth century Santa Clara students enjoyed the fruits of local industry, depositing this soda bottle where O’Connor Hall is today. Back then, it was the former California Hotel, where Santa Clara College housed several dormitories and classrooms.
The bottle is a small reminder of how the local economy grew very rapidly in a short period of time.
It is labeled “New Almaden Mineral Water,” which was bottled by the Vichy Water Company between 1867 and 1882. The spring was well known before it was bottled: a guide book of California from 1861, invited travelers to sip “the delicious waters of the fine cool soda spring” (Hutchings 1862).
Mid 19th Century advertisement for the soda water (Boulland & Boudrealt 2006: 65)
Additional Information:
ClaraVision: Photos of the early Santa Clara College and student life.
“History of New Almaden” Photos and a brief history of the mine by History San Jose.
The California Gold Rush. Interactive online exhibit from the Oakland Museum.
Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California (1862) by James M. Hutchings. A 19th century guidebook to California