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Published on 04/07/1999 All articles from this issue

Voice of the Past

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Cars, trains and Model Ts: Early resident knew them all

George Ramsey now lives in Sunnyvale and will celebrate his 103rd birthday in September. The original Spanish-style home that George and his wife Margurite built in 1937, on First Street and Edith Avenue in Los Altos, remains as a little bit of old Los Altos in the midst of today's busy town.

George Ramsey was on a job-hunting trip in 1924 when he arrived in Los Altos in his Model T Ford. His skills were mechanical, and he loved everything about automobiles. He purchased The Los Altos Garage at the northwest corner of First and State streets.

Ramsey offered his customers automobile fueling, service and repairs. He paid $50 per month for the business. A tough-minded banker arrived on the scene, rain or shine, to be paid in cash.

The business location near the train depot was a good one. The commuter train departed from Los Altos at 7:12 a.m. and returned at 6:13 p.m. Commuters left their ailing vehicles at George's garage in the morning and picked up their rejuvenated cars at day's end.

During Ramsey's early days in Los Altos, structures on the south side of First Street between Main Street and Edith Avenue, consisted of Woodworth's Feed & Fuel and the power house for the electric "Big Red" streetcars (now the site of Safeway Market) that traveled between San Jose and Palo Alto via Steven's Creek Road.

The Depression of the 1930s saw real estate promoters standing on tree stumps on State Street delivering land-sales pitches to people from the upper Peninsula and San Francisco. Prospective buyers were enticed with free Sunday train rides and picnic lunches. Twenty-five foot lots sometimes sold for $50.

With the first of Ramsey's profits, he paid $50 each for the five lots around his business, including the present Post Office site. The selling Realtor was William "Bill" Cranston, father of Los Altos native Senator Alan Cranston.

Ramsey became a trusted civic leader. He organized the Christmas tree lighting and was always ready to help town committees.

He also played a critical part in the incorporation of the town. On the morning of Dec. 1, 1952, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved the Los Altos incorporation election results. Ramsey was entrusted with delivering the incorporation papers to the Secretary of State in Sacramento by 3 p.m. With his important mission accomplished, he returned to Los Altos in time for the newly-elected city council's first meeting at 6 p.m. the same day.

Adapted from "Memories of Los Altos" by Joe Salameda, 1982. Courtesy of Donna Shoemaker and the Oral History Program, History House of Los Altos.