Almaden Resident
News
City officials honor Almaden Valley advocate
Boudreault is the go-to guy
By Emilie Crofton
Whether it's learning about one's family history, describing the economic benefits of the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine or creating solutions to slow speeding drivers on Graystone Lane, Almaden Valley resident Art Boudreault is the go-to guy.
Recently Boudreault went from battling developers to battling cancer. With the cancer in remission, the New Almaden historian is continuing his 27 years of preserving and improving the Almaden community.
"Almaden is a very forceful community," Boudreault says. "We have the opportunity to have our voices heard."
Boudreault's efforts in the community have not gone unnoticed. He was recently recognized by San Jose city officials, including Mayor Chuck Reed, for his years of hard work in the community.
Reed and District 10 Councilwoman Nancy Pyle recognized Boudreault at the Nov. 6 city council meeting for "his dedication and outstanding commitment to the Almaden community."
"Art offers unique perspective and insight into government policies and programs," Pyle said in an e-mail. "I enjoy working with him on city government issues." Boudreault's desires to reach out to the entire community are what make him such an asset to the city.
"Art has a strong and generous spirit," Pyle says. "He is always willing to bear new responsibilities in order to benefit the community as a whole."
Boudreault, 70, is the president of the Almaden Valley Community Association and a member of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association. He also volunteers as docent and researcher for the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum.
In addition, Boudreault was instrumental in saving part of the Almaden Feed and Fuel, a historic building that dates back to the 1930s.
When he is not preserving history, he is fighting to stop speeders on Graystone Lane and working to find usage solutions at TJ Martin Park, where a rift has developed between nearby residents and the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League.
Boudreault's active life was put on hold after he was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2007. Boudreault underwent chemotherapy; despite being given only a 30 percent chance of survival, he is currently in remission.
Boudreault describes himself as very fortunate and says he has learned a lot from the experience.
"It's taught me to focus on what I can do today, rather then what I might do tomorrow."
History Buff
A native of Massachusetts, Boudreault worked as an electrical engineer and started his own automation services company in Tennessee before retiring in 1999.
Boudreault says he followed his lifelong passion for history and genealogy, which is why he volunteers at the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. It keeps him busy during retirement.
Boudreault has organized all the museum's documents, photos and historical archives with hardware and archival software. Within minutes researchers now can find the documents they need instead of searching for hours through old boxes.
"We've been delighted with his help at the museum because he's a genius with computers," says New Almaden resident Kitty Monahan, a museum docent and president of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association. "He has made genealogy and family history searches so much easier for visitors."
Through his years of cataloguing at the museum, Boudreault gained a wealth of knowledge. He used his technical writing experience and teamed up with New Almaden resident Michael Boulland to write Images of America: New Almaden, an illustrated book showcasing people, architecture and events that all contributed to the area's rich history.
"I don't think people realize the importance that New Almaden had in the American economy," Boudreault says. "New Almaden was the richest mine in California and was one of the largest exports of mercury, a rare metal."
Boudreault's goal is to preserve the character of Almaden Valley and spark the community's interest in history. He views history as an important component in understanding the present.
He shares his knowledge of history and writing with others by teaching a Montalvo memoir-writing workshop at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"If you don't put it in print, your history disappears," says Boudreault, who is currently working on his own three-part memoir, which he plans to publish. "If you write it, it will continue on forever."
Learning about genealogy and the experiences of family ancestors are what make history fun, he says.
"In schools the focus is on dates and places, but if more focus was placed on genealogy or personal experience, it would make history easier to understand," Boudreault says. "If history is taught with a personal experience, it makes history more alive."
Boudreault's efforts, both past and present, have been invaluable to Almaden, Monahan says.
"We need to keep the history alive out here," Monahan says. "Art has been a huge asset to New Almaden."