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Published on 03/23/1998 All articles from this issue

History House Education Center short on pledges

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

The campaign to raise funds for the History House Education Center has hit a lull. After several generous gifts from community members, $500,000 of the $1.65 million project cost remains to be raised before any construction can begin.

Mel and Mady Kahn recently donated a substantial amount to the project.

"My parents believed in Los Altos, and this is an opportunity to give future generations a sense of our history," said Mel Kahn, owner of Kahn's Corner Pharmacy on Main Street. "We are fortunate in what we have in Los Altos, and we feel fortunate we can return something to the community through the Education Center."

The $1.65 million Education Center will be built with private funds. When developed, the facility will be used to store thousands of documents tracing Los Altos history and offer an environment, equipped with computers, for visitors to do research.

Steering committee member Bob Grimm and his wife, Marion, longtime History House supporters have pledged $650,000 as matching funds. The Packard Foundation has pledged $100,000 in matching funds, and Nan and Chuck Geschke of Los Altos have contributed $100,000.

"Our community is made up of a lot of positive aspects. We have a lot going for us and I think we have people who are proud of where they live," Grimm said. "When you have that pride you tend to take care of your community and that makes good things happen."

History House supporters say the need for the additional building at the History House Museum is obvious since currently, only a fraction of the museum's more than 5,000 artifacts and documents can be displayed.

Jim Wall, president of the Bank of Los Altos, said investors have contributed $22,500 to the Education Center.

"I believe any strong community needs a sense of its history, and as a bank's responsibility, it should be one of the leaders in the corporate community to help build ... the History House Education Center," Wall said.

The new 8,200-square-foot Education Center will allow the museum to expand its display of the permanent collection, allow for expanded educational programs and provide a public research location for written and photographic historical archives.

Residents Pete Harman of Los Altos Hills, Janet and David Kline, of Los Altos Hills, and Jo and Ed Zschau of Los Altos have also contributed.

Ginny Lear of the campaign's steering committee said she was not sure the necessary money could be raised for the scheduled May groundbreaking.

For information, or to pledge a donation to the Education Center, call 599-2255 or write Education Center at History House, 546 Orange Ave., Los Altos 94022.