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Published on 06/02/1997 All articles from this issue

25 years ago in the Town Crier

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Pages of the Past

As reported in the June 7, 1972, issue of the Town Crier, St. Francis High School was named winner of the All-Sports Trophy for 1971-1972 in the West Catholic Athletic League. Despite having more than 300 fewer students than the majority of schools in the league, St. Francis won the trophy three times over a four-year period.

In determining the award, the WCAL gave points for team finish in round-robin competition for nine varsity sports.

Summer 1972 was heralded as having the worst fire danger in years. The local fire department issued a warning to residents to protect their homes.

The City of Los Altos had sustained fire damage to 120 buildings in the previous year and damage in 1972 from building fires in the area already surpassed that of 1971.

Such non-academic skills as bubble gum-blowing and house haunting were featured when Oak School held its carnival on June 3, 1972.

Booths for games, food and drinks were prepared by teachers and students. Mothers donated a variety of baked goods for the bake sale. Getting a jump of several months on Halloween, Oak students donned scary masks and costumes for the spook-house, one of the features of the carnival.

50 years ago in the Los Altos NewsAs reported in the June 5, 1947, issue of the Los Altos News, Belle Silver, known to Los Altans as the attempted purchaser of the Morgan Manor, was in the limelight again when she was arrested in Nevada County. For three months, she eluded the police who sought her on passing a bad check, jumping bail, grand theft and other charges.

Silver, whose real name was Tanya Barber, offered in 1947 to purchase the manor from its owners, named Buys. However, she was unable to raise the $200,000 she promised.

The century plant (agave Americana) at the entrance to the Earl Watson home on Los Altos Avenue felled an old myth and belied its name as it prepared to burst into bloom in early June 1947.

In April 1947, much to the astonishment of the Watsons, a spike shot out of the gray-green crown that in 22 years had done nothing more than lazily renew its worn leaves. The spike grew rapidly until it reached 15 feet into the air, and then branches extended themselves and buds formed at the tips, ready to burst open into yellowish-white conical blossoms.

- Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association