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Published on 08/17/1998 All articles from this issue

Pages of the Past

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25 years ago in the Town Crier

According to the Aug. 29, 1973, issue of the Town Crier, the aroma of freshly baked cookies on Pine Lane in Los Altos signaled the opening of a new day care center for seniors at Pilgrim Haven retirement home. Open at that time to all Los Altos residents 65 years or older who were able to care for themselves, it was designed to provide sociability with activities such as baking, bridge, picnics, arts and crafts.

The California Historical Landmarks Committee, based in Sacramento, was considering the Juan Prado Mesa adobe site in Los Altos Hills as a historical point of interest. Background information on the site, located at El Monte and Summerhill avenues, had been provided by Florence Fava, Los Altos Hills historian.

The adobe, built about 1844, either crumbled away or was razed in the 1860s. It had been the home of Juan Prado Mesa, holder of one of two Spanish land grants comprising what is now the Town of Los Altos Hills. After his death, the land was divided and had a series of different owners. In 1973 a subdivision was proposed for the land.

An Ohlone Indian village site, located just across El Monte from the adobe site but actually in Los Altos, had already been declared a point of historical interest by the state, the first site in Los Altos to gain such recognition.

50 years ago in the Los Altos News

As reported in the Aug. 26, 1948, issue of the Los Altos News, ground was broken for the long-awaited movie theater on Main Street. There were two reports about when Los Altans could start attending - one was in 90 days and the other made it a Christmas present. Either one seemed fine with most Los Altans who had been disappointed by numerous delays.

Stanford was engaged in a major building program to provide more housing, but faced a desperate and immediate need by 1,000 students and 100 faculty members for adequate and affordable housing in the fall of 1948.

In the available listings at Stanford, the average rent for a one-bedroom, unfurnished apartment was $85 a month, no children accepted. This was too expensive for veterans who made up two-thirds of the university's student body. Married veterans without children received $105 a month under the G.I. Bill of Rights, and those with children, $120.

- Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association