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Published on 12/08/1997 All articles from this issue

Four founding members honored at History House's 20th birthday party

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Town Crier Staff Report

The members of the Association of the Los Altos Historical Museum gave themselves a birthday party Dec. 3 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Los Altos History House Museum. The members-only candlelight soiree was held in the dramatic and ornate ballroom of Morgan Manor estate in Los Altos Hills.

The evening began with a tour and discussion of the history- filled Los Altos estate presented by host and current owner, Victor Meshkovsky.

Meshkovsky, who has owned the mansion since the late 1980s, talked about the house's origins going back to 1914 and its first owner, a relative of the famous J.P. Morgan.

Liz Nyberg, current president of the association, led the gathering of more than 120 attendees in honoring three currently active History House members who were also original 1977 historical commissioners.

The Los Altos City Council decided in 1975 to turn the old J. Gilbert Smith farmhouse, that sits near Los Altos City Hall, into a museum and appointed a seven-member historical commission. That commission worked toward the official dedication of the museum, Dec. 1, 1977.

Pinky Whelan and Lee Lynch were on hand to receive appreciation for their longtime membership. Kaye Payne was unable to attend. Audrey Fisher, who played a key role in the establishment of the History House Museum while on the city council, died Nov. 26, not long after celebrating her 93rd birthday. Special recognition of her contribution was shared by all.

The honorees were praised not only as initiators of History House Museum, but for their 20 years of effort and continuing contribution to the principles of preserving the past and future history of the Los Altos community.

Ginny Lear, who is leading fund-raising efforts for construction of an 8,200-square-foot History House Education Center, said the fund raisers are still about $600,000 short of their goal for the $1.65 million facility.

The center, she said, would provide needed space for archives and offer up-to-date research tools.

Leading contributors thus far include Chuck and Nan Geschke, Mel and Mady Kahn, Bob and Marion Grimm and the Packard Foundation.

The gala event concluded with a toast of champagne and birthday cake, with the two present honorees demonstrating their non-stop ability to work as a team: together, they blew out 20 candles all in one breath.