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Published on 07/22/1996 All articles from this issue

Pages of the Past

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25 years ago in the Town Crier

According to the July 28, 1971, issue of the Town Crier, Los Altos had its own Olympics on July 16, 1971, at Los Altos High School where more than 200 boys and girls vied for top honors in track and field events, sponsored by the Recreation Department.

Ribbons were awarded in all events to the individuals who placed first through sixth. Purissima, with a half-point lead over Oak School, earned the title of overall winner of the 1971 Los Altos Olympics.

From Los Angeles to the Oregon border, 287 runners streamed into Los Altos on the weekend of July 9, 1971, eager to participate in a 24-hour marathon, sponsored by Runner's World magazine and held on the Los Altos High School track.

There were at least 28 runners on the track at all times with each runner dashing a mile before being relieved by a team member. Ages of the participants ranged from two 8-year-old girls to men and women in their 50s. During the 24 hours, 26,000 laps were run for a total of 6,500 miles.

No prizes or trophies were awarded, but all had a fabulous time, according to Joe Henderson of Runner's World.

50 years ago in the Los Altos News

In the July 25, 1946, issue of the Los Altos News, the editor described the unveiling of Permanente's new 60-foot-long bus that could bend in the middle, weighed 28,000 pounds, had two restrooms and cost about $150,000.

For the benefit of the press from all around the Bay Area, Henry J. Kaiser took the wheel, gunned the bus with the diesel motor "roaring like a wounded lion," turned into a parking lot and proceeded to get "stuck."

It took 15 minutes of careful maneuvering by experienced bus drivers and moving of about 20 parked cars to get the bus out of the 30-foot alley way.

Los Altans were advised that garbage collection rates would go up to 75 cents a month on Aug. 1, 1946. The raise reflected a countrywide increase of 15 to 25 cents a month.

Southern Pacific Railroad also planned to increase fares on the Peninsula. The proposed increase in monthly commutation fares between San Francisco and Palo Alto would add about 4 cents cost per trip. The current fare was $10.77 a month and the proposed fare was $12.93.

- Researched by Ellen Shaw

of the Los Altos History House Association.