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Published on 06/22/1998 All articles from this issue

Pages of the Past

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25 years ago in the Town Crier

According to the July 4, 1973, issue of the Town Crier, the Bullis School kindergarten class observed the close of school for the summer with its very own circus. The classroom was colorfully decorated with streamers and balloons and became the "Big Top." Painted cages and animal pictures covered the walls to help create a carnival-like atmosphere.

The children dressed up as elephants, bears, clowns and early Americans and performed for parents and friends. Music and song filled the air as each of the students presented a specialty act. The circus concluded with everyone joining in for popcorn and lemonade.

Los Altos City Council unanimously approved a $2.4 million budget for the fiscal year 1973-74. With $1.35 million for public safety, the budget represented business as usual for the city and maintained the existing 83 cents per $100 assessed valuation tax rate.

Jack Koehler, a junior at Los Altos High and a member of Scout Troop 39, attained the rank of Eagle Scout. His eagle project was organizing and carrying out the planting of fir trees at Castle Rock Memorial Grove for the Sempervirens Fund. The work involved 150 volunteers.

Jack was an active hiker, and his interests included rock climbing, model making and bicycle racing.

50 years ago in the Los Altos News

As reported in the July 1, 1948, issue of the Los Altos News, preliminary plans for two new schools for the Los Altos area were approved by the local school board. If found acceptable by the state division of Schoolhouse Planning, the new schools were expected to be ready by early fall 1949.

The board also announced that Ardis Egan was retained as principal for another four years. Telephone directories, distributed to all subscribers in Los Altos, contained thousands of new telephone numbers that became effective on July 4, 1948. At that time, central office names and other changes were made in six Peninsula exchanges.

With the changes in numbers, methods of placing extended area and service calls from Los Altos telephones were completely changed. It became possible to dial the listed number just as one did a local call when placing calls to Palo Alto and Mountain View. Calls to Sunnyvale still were placed by dialing operator.

The Los Altos Art Club undertook organizing a summer orchestral ensemble, planned for fun and pleasure.

- Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association