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Published on 10/06/1999 All articles from this issue

Pages of the Past

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50 years ago

1949 Top Radio, TV shows: Original Amateur Hour, Texaco Star Theater, Howdy Doody Show, The Goldbergs, Toast of the Town.

In Los Altos: The school board approved plans for the construction of Covington School. The 12 classrooms were to be constructed on a 15-acre parcel that was purchased for $48,531. The completion date was September 1950.

Paul Myers, a local attorney, was elected president of the Los Altos Kiwanis Club. The Los Altos Garden Club celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Harvest Festival at Payne's Patio. The club's first president, Arthur E. Fowle, and the Rev. Thomas D. Landels were honored by the current president, Mrs. William Radcliffe.

A nine-person panel was established to study formation of a community foundation to attract gifts and bequests for a community center. Committee members included Dr. Clarence Angell, Alfred Bowen, Mrs. Frank Duveneck, Ott Heizer, Charles Helser, Herman Newman, Edd Rountree, Gene Tarbell and Neville Williams.

A list of new businesses in 1949 include Berger's Pharmacy, Serv-U-Rite 5 and 10, Jack and Eleanor's Fountain, Voll's Jewelry Store, Russell-Huston Men's Store and Wilkins Cotton Shop.

At the Altos Theatre: "I Was a Mail Order Bride," with Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan; and "Big Jack," with Wallace Beery.

25 years ago

1974 U.S. Headlines: Muhammad Ali won back his heavyweight championship title from George Foreman; the Dow Jones' 1974 low of 570 was half of its high in 1972.

In Los Altos: The city council issued a special permit to De Martini's Market, allowing the market to remain in business despite its nonconforming nature for a residential location. The city council called the site a "historic landmark."

Foodland Market at 994 Los Altos Ave. was issued a similar nonconforming permit, pending their ice cream machine being moved to a council-approved location.

Residents and station owners complained about the rise in gasoline prices. Lounsberry Arco was 52 cents a gallon; Rancho Mobil Service was 59.9 cents a gallon.

Despite well-coordinated opposition, board members voted unanimously to close Covington School as a junior high and Hillview School. Both closures were a result of reduced enrollments. Covington students were shifted between Blach and Egan schools, and Hillview students were transferred to Almond Avenue School and Covington School, which was converted to an elementary school.

- Compiled by Donna Shoemaker for History House of Los Altos.