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Published on 07/13/1998 All articles from this issue

Pages of the Past

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25 years ago in the Town Crier

According to the July 25, 1973, issue of the Town Crier, the city of Los Altos received $25,500 as its share of a $38.8 million statewide distribution of local sales and use taxes collected by the State Board of Equalization. Los Altos Hills received $625.

The bulk of the funds came from the Bradley-Burns 1 percent local sales and use tax.

To help use up excess energy during summer 1973, Paul Cureton of Los Altos, 7, conducted a one-week class in what he described as "useful math." His four pupils were in the 4- and 5-year-old age bracket.

Paul advertised his free lessons though an ad in the Town Crier. Someone tipped off Channel Seven, which photographed the first class in action for showing on its 6 p.m. news program.

The Los Altos Hills Town Council approved the 1973-74 budget, the first time in two years the town had had a budget in force. The council took the action July 18,1973, leaving the capitol improvements program open to review.

50 years ago in the Los Altos News

As reported in the July 22, 1948, issue of the Los Altos News, Bicycle Field Day at the Los Altos Elementary School grounds drew more than 150 children who participated in a variety of stunts, contests and races under the supervision of the Summer Recreation Program. A prize was given for the best decorated bike and everything was free.

"Why, it's just like being in another world, to come to Los Altos from England. Your beautiful sunny weather, the buildings undamaged by bombs and . . . oh . . . the food."

So said Mrs. Hilda Owens, newly arrived in July 1948 from England with her adult daughter, Brenda, and her good friend, Kathleen Duff. The three planned to stay in the area permanently in a home near Mrs. Owens' sister, Mrs. Raymond Whitcomb of Los Altos.

Ground was broken on both sides of the 200 block on Main Street for the purpose of erecting two new business buildings. Each would cover 4,000 square feet, with the lot 130 feet deep to an alley.

Both buildings, which were scheduled for completion by Nov. 1, 1948, were designed for retail stores purposes. Owners were Alan Cranston and Eleanor Fowle.

Beginning Aug. 1, 1948, the subscription rate to the Los Altos News was increased to $2.50. The paper stated that the increase was necessitated by advancing material and labor costs.

- Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association