Why is Preserving New Idria Important?
The New Idria is a California State Historical landmark and it is being nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Moreover, the lands around New Idria are in crucial need of protection and the surrounding region is rich with pre-historic and historic resources. The area has a rich human history in both original California Indians, immigrants, as well as connections with some famous characters.
The town and mill site contains many historic buildings and structures such as the furnace building, constructed in 1917 that contains the four original Gould Rotary Furnaces.
Construction of the Furnace Building Contain the four Gould Rotary Furnaces - 1917
Regrettably efforts to preserve these important San Benito County historic resources have been generally rejected by the San Benito County Historical Society and the San Benito County officials, including the Board of Supervisor members Don Marcus, Anthony Botelho, Pat Loe, Reb Monaco, Jaime De La Cruz, and Treasurer-Tax Collector, Mary Lou Andrade, and the county’s Administrative Officer, Susan Thompson. The continued theft and destruction of New Idria and other important historic sites in San Benito County is clearly the result of their apathy.