One of the Barron Park neighborhood’s beloved and iconic donkeys, Miner Forty Niner, has died, according to his handlers. He was 32.
Miner, better known as Niner, was euthanized on Wednesday, Sept. 28, after having respiratory and other health problems, donkey handler Inge Harding-Barlow said.
The venerable donkey was part of the neighborhood’s legend, along with his companion, Perry. The two donkeys are the latest in a long line of donkeys that stretched back to 1934 when Bol Park was part of a farm owned by Dr. Cornelis Bol.
When Bol died in 1965, the Barron Park Association, led by resident Richard Placone, helped secure the purchase of part of the farm from the Bol family. It was the last large piece of open space in the neighborhood, according to Barron Park historian Douglas Graham.
As descendants of a proud equine history, Niner and Perry entertained thousands of Palo Alto visitors from their paddock in the current Barron Park Pasture owned by James Witt and during Sunday walks during which they grazed in the park. The donkeys took part in parades, weddings and even funerals, Harding-Barlow said.
Niner, who was the larger of the two (Perry is a miniature donkey), had a friendly and curious nature. He would regularly hang his head over the fence to receive pets or try to nibble handbags or other potential sources of treats.
He was born in the Mojave Desert. Many generations of feral donkeys in the Southwest deserts descended from abandoned or escaped mining stock, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Their large numbers were considered destructive to desert habitats, so they were rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management and relocated or given up for adoption.
Niner, while still a yearling, was taken to Los Altos to live with a family, where he stayed for 14 years, Harding-Barlow said. He was given to Barron Park as a companion to another donkey, Mickey, who was the last surviving donkey born at Bol’s farm.
His initial introduction to Palo Alto in June 1998 was somewhat challenging, Harding-Barlow recalled. He was “at the peak of his donkeyhood” and pictured himself as the “alpha donkey.” But that didn’t sit well with Mickey, who wasn’t about to relinquish his position, Harding-Barlow said. Niner fell into step in the donkey order until Mickey died, she added.
Niner had other endearing and, at times, frustrating traits.
“He was an escape artist … If he found a hole in the fence or under the fence, big as he was, he would find a way through it,” Harding-Barlow said. “One of the worst times was when he got onto the VA emergency helicopter pad.”
Invariably, there would be shouts of “donkey on the loose” at Gunn High School or searches in the park for the wayward beast, and Niner would always be led back on a dog leash. He could even pull the gate bolt out with his nose and mouth and nudge the door open, and eventually it had to be padlocked, Harding-Barlow said.
Niner also had a few phobias to overcome, including a fear of wooden bridges. He refused to cross wooden bridges and would rear and practically knock his handler over, Harding-Barlow said. He finally conquered his fear after Harding-Barlow and handlers Leland and Edith Smith walked him back and forth across a wooden bridge near Gunn several times for a few days, Harding-Barlow said.
Also, his early trauma of being rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management helicopters made him hate the sound of the rotors, Harding-Barlow said. He would go berserk when helicopters landed at the VA or when they arrived to transport construction materials, she recalled.
“Leland Smith was the only person who could really handle him,” she said. “He managed to coax him out of his bad moods. It was his patience and love, really, that made Niner into the lovable donkey he became.”
As he aged into his 20s, Niner mellowed. He began to like children. And he even shared his special geriatric donkey feed with one particular ground squirrel.
“It was so sweet. The ground squirrel was practically sitting on his nose and he would not object at all,” Harding-Barlow said.
When Perry, now 22, arrived, the smaller donkey took his position as the beta male. But like many siblings, they had a love-hate relationship.
“They loved each other, but they occasionally quarreled,” Harding-Barlow said.
The Barron Park donkeys cemented their legacy when their movements were filmed for the animated donkey in the “Shrek” movie. There was some debate about whether Perry or Niner would be used as the model for the film’s donkey. Niner, perhaps in a bid to upstage his pipsqueak partner, was ultimately undone by his curious nature and his disregard for pretension.
“We were up on top of Strawberry Hill, Jim Bronson and I. One of the people sketching the donkeys was in his early 20s. He was so proud of his big, long boots that were handmade for him. They probably cost $700 to $1,000. Niner sniffs the boots, and starts to lick them and starts to bite them. He was starting to eat this guy’s boots,” Harding-Barlow remembered.
Harding-Barlow wrote a “last will and testament” on the donkey’s behalf last week, which states in part:
“I have little in the way of material things to leave. Donkeys are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and obtain the objects they have not.
“There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Handlers, who I know will mourn me most and to Perry who has been my ‘brother’ and constant companion for 18 years. If I should list all those who have loved me, I could write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always thought that I have been an extremely lovable donkey.”
In one last word of farewell for Niner, Harding-Barlow wrote, “Whenever you visit my pasture, always remember my long happy life with you all! No matter how deep my eternal sleep, I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from welcoming you with my usual bray.”
Perry has been removed from the paddock and relocated for what handlers said will be a short stay. Harding-Barlow said she hopes that another donkey companion can be found for him.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said the pasture became part of Bol Park. The Weekly regrets the error.
Oh, sad news. Niner will be missed. RIP.
Sad news indeed. I have great memories From the late night parties in the late nineties, hanging out with girls from gunn high school out by the donkey pasture. To more recently, taking my children to see the donkeys.
contrary to this report the city does Not own the pasture
its privately owned
Losing Niner is so sad. He helped to make Barron Park a unique place.
Niner will be missed. I hope a companion for Perry can be found soon.
Niner has been passed away for a week now and does anyone know where is Perry? Children want to see Perry and know that he is not dead too. This whole neighborhood and community is grieving.
TO: Where is Perry?
“Perry has been removed from the paddock and relocated for what handlers said will be a short stay. Harding-Barlow said she hopes that another donkey companion can be found for him.”
I’m often saddened that my grandmother,Oma – Josina Bol, is so seldom mentioned. She fed and cared for the donkeys for many decades. As kids we loved to gather up the carrots and others veggies and tromp over to feed the donkeys with her.
One correction to this story. While I do not remember the exact date of Dr. Bol’s death, it was in the early 1970’s that the Bol Family offered the “donkey pasture” to the community at a below market price if it would be made into a park. What is now Bol Park was dedicated in 1974, one year prior to the annexation of Barron Park to Palo Alto. The residents of Barron Park taxed themselves to be able to establish the park. Keeping and caring for the donkeys became a permanent part of that project. Upon annexation to Palo Alto, the city assumed ownership of the park as well as the former Southern Pacific railroad right of way, which had been given to the Barron Park community as a gift. The city then developed the right of way into the current shared pathway. It is correct that I was the president of the Barron Park Association during this time.
Sorry to hear of Niner’s death. We have always enjoyed our time spent at Bol Park. Thank you, Bol family for what you have done for Palo Alto. I have lovely pictures to remember Niner by. Looking forward to the return of Perry and truly hope that a great companion will come to share his space with him.
So when can we put up a statue of Niner. I believe its quite appropriate, and as the article mentions donkeys are wiser than men. Why not rename one of our schools after him? it would be much better than honoring eugenicists like Terman or JLS that advocated for policies we would now associate with dystopian fascist nightmares.
Rename Terman or Gunn to Niner Middle/High School!
Thanks for the memories, Niner! I hope this area of Palo Alto can retain its unique equine and rural character.
This is really sad. I always looked forward to seeing Niner on my walk and I eventually considered him “my boyfriend”. Once he entered his mellow stage he would bray when I approached and let me touch his face. He relaxed and hung his head on the fence, and got a kind of contemplative expression. And he wouldn’t let Perry near me. Then, one day I found out that he had another affectionate friend, too! There was a friendly Russian lady in the pasture giving him enthusiastic hugs and kisses, and he was clearly enjoying the attention. I will miss him a lot. It’s nice to hear about his history…. so many things he never told me! I guess it’s like that with obituaries: yet, it seems wrong that we only get to know more about a beloved after they die. Thank you Bol Family, Inga Harding-Barlow, and Dick Placone for enriching the lives of those of us who love animals.
Great story, Sue Dremann. Thanks for writing it.
That’s really sad! His memory will be a blessing to us all. I am very grateful that many of us got to share some time with him, and its something very special about Palo Alto. He lives on in our hearts and wherever he is, I bet he’s really happy.
Thirty-two is a ripe old age for a donkey, especially one in captivity. They are prone to founder and colic.
Rest well, Niner.
Which Burris were there in about 1982? We used to run through there at noon, and the Burris would be standing in mud up to their “knees?” And looked so miserable, they did not look well-cared for and I was very sad. Remember 1973? I think it still holds the record for total rainfall.
In my previous comment, I meant “1983.” Wish there were an edit function.
Thank you to the thoughtful caring donkey handlers who “camped” at the Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic in Salinas CA for Niner’s last days, staying with him and Perry all day, petting them and talking to them.
Perry can be brought back to Palo Alto anytime, but he would be too depressed coming back to the paddock in Barron Park without his mate Niner. It is best to adopt one or two donkeys and then bring Perry to join them in Parry’s paddock.
Donkeys are “herd” animals. Donkeys feel best with equine companions. Also older animals feel more comfortable with another older relaxed animal, as younger animals are more active and can frighten an older animal who can’t see or hear so well, so it would be best to try to adopt older donkeys. Older donkeys also feel vulnerable due to the loss of eyesight and hearing and they definitely prefer to have at least one friend for comfort although two companions would be better.
Did Niner die of old age, or an illness? I ask because I have known donkeys in captivity to live to be 45 or more. I know of one in my veterinarian’s practice who lived to be 51.
These days, with regular worming, proper nutrition, monthly doses of psyllium to clear sand from the gut, and equine dentistry, all equines are living beyond their previous life expectancies.
Back in the late 80s & early 90s, I used to lure-course my Whippets on (is it) the Gunn High School playing fields — My 2 young sons and I always enjoyed visiting “Mickey the Donkey”, who was in residence there at the time, and feeding him carrots I would bring with for that purpose … He really loved all the attention from us & would always sniff nose-to-nose with the hounds as well.