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Published on 03/09/1998 All articles from this issue

Pages of the Past

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25 years ago in the Town Crier

As reported in the March 21, 1973, issue of the Town Crier, funeral services had been held the previous week for Calvin C. Flint. He had guided the destiny of the Foothill College District for 13 years, serving as the first superintendent and president of the college.

Flint, who had retired from the college district in June 1971, died at his Los Altos home March 12, 1973, at the age of 66. Flint Center for the Performing Arts at De Anza College in Cupertino was named in his honor.

In a contest sponsored by the California Teachers' Association, the Los Altos Town Crier placed first in the state for its feature stories interpreting school programs and educational issues.

The awards to mass media for outstanding contributions to public understanding of educational issues were named for John Swett, the first teacher to serve as state superintendent of instruction.

The Los Altos City Council voted March 13, 1973, to introduce an ordinance permanently zoning the controversial 16.8 acres of El Retiro Jesuit Retreat property as R1-H.

Although the zoning allowed developer Edwin Johnsen to build a cluster development on the property, he did state that if conservationists were able to raise the money to buy the land from the Jesuits within 90 days, he would step aside.

50 years ago in the Los Altos News

As reported in the March 18, 1948, issue of the Los Altos News, efforts to develop a water distribution system for the foothills west of Los Altos were discontinued. Only 52 of the 300 homeowners in the area showed support for the proposal to bring in a supply of water.

The Foothills Water Committee did succeed in locating an ample supply of water - at first considered by many to be impossible - that was available if the area had its own pipes, pumps and reservoirs.

Principal Ardis Egan of the local grammar school promised that the $309,000 school bond would not result in a tax increase if passed by voters in the April 9 election. In fact, he said, there would be a 75 cent drop per $100 assessed valuation by 1950.

It was necessary for the local district to bond itself to become eligible for state aid. According to Egan, a survey showed that the school district needed $1.3 million in state aid during the ensuing two years.

Fred H. Ainsworth was appointed chairman in Los Altos for organizing a "MacArthur for President" club. "I sincerely believe General Douglas MacArthur is the man of the hour," Ainsworth said. "His record speaks for itself."

- Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association