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Published on 06/09/1999 All articles from this issue

Voice of the Past

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1st grade 1919: 'Junior' Dutton wore his pants backward

Following is a brief except from more than 10 hours of memories Harry "Junior" Dutton shared with History House of Los Altos, between April 1998 and March 1999. Dutton died April 30, 1999, but his voice and his stories will be forever treasured for retelling to future generations in Los Altos.

I went to Los Altos Grammar School on San Antonio Road. Up until about a year ago I could remember the names of every one of my teachers. Now I can't remember names too well. But that was a fine school.

I remember the first day I went to school, in 1919. The music teacher, Mrs. McCrumb, lined us up in front of the school. There were maybe 50 kids, all the grades. Mrs. McCrumb appeared with her pitch pipe and "set the tone." In those days the song was not the "Star-Spangled Banner" or "America." We sang "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean." Then we would all march into the classroom.

Just before we marched inside on my first day of school, one of the wits of the class said, "Hey kid, your pants are on backwards." And, they were. It was my life's most embarrassing moment. I do remember the first day of school.

My family was like many in Los Altos - we were not wealthy by any means. The Shoup family, the railroad Shoup family, were like the gods in Greek mythology. If you were ever invited to Paul Shoup's or Guy Shoup's house for tea, you had really made it in this town. It was sort of a clique where what mattered was your money and what part of town you lived in and what your parents did. You had to live on the right side of the tracks - the University Avenue side of the tracks. You had to have a good education and culture. You had to play mah-jongg, and, of course, the ladies had to play bridge. No one in my family ever went to tea at the Shoups. But I paid no mind to that.

One of my best friends through school was Alan Cranston. Even though his family had money, they were never in that clique. His parents, they were well educated. They had both gone to Stanford. They had no pretenses. His family was so good to me. I had another wonderful friend, Ralph Raymond. My family was not outgoing and we never invited people over, so I used to love being invited to the Raymond's house. I loved those simple Sunday dinners.

I have had a lot of fun in my life. I have had a lot of escapades, more than most, I guess. I remember so many friends and wonderful times. Life is such a mystery and such an adventure.

- Adapted by Donna Shoemaker. For information about the Los Altos History House Oral History Program, call 650-948-9427.