The Plaques of Los Altos Hills

 

Over the years, a number of plaques have been placed in various spots around Los Altos Hills. Some have since been removed, or replaced, or just forgotten.

This web-page is a first cut at creating a catalog of these plaques - it does not include all plaques (such as for example those that are identifying or describing sculptures or other artistic endeavors) but is focused on those that are more commemorative in nature.

There may be some plaques that are missing because we don't even know of their existence - but may be stored somewhere where we will eventualy find them and photograph them to add to the collection. Others we may have missed because they are hidden in the undergrowth along a pathway or trail through Town. If you know of the whereabouts of such a plaque, please contact the Los Altos Hills History Committee with this information.

 

It all begins with the establishment of the Town of Los Altos Hills when it was incrporated as a Town by a vote of the area resident in 1956.

 

This is the plaque that was attached to the original Town Hall building (built soon after the Town was incorporated in 1956). The plaque was dedicated on the occasion of the Town's 12th anniversary in 1968 - see following newspaper clipping.

 

Early newspaper account of the unveiling at the 12th Birthday

 

Some time in the 1970's the original Town Hall Building was extended with a separate "Council Chamber" structure which was constructed at the far end of the original structure and at right angles to it. This too had a plaque affixed to it

The original plaque shown earlier is indicated by the arrow towards the right in the above picture. The second plaque, created when the "Council Chamber" was added is marked with the second arrow at left of the picture.

 

This is the second plaque which was placed in 1975 to commemorate the addition of the separate "Council Chambers" building.

 

When the original Town Hall was demolished in 2004, both of the above plaques were first removed and placed in a safe place with a view to displaying them again at some point in the future after the new Town Hall had been built - and they were essentialy forgotten about - out of sight, out of mind..

Nearly fifteen years later, during a clean-up of a safe-storage room, the first plaque (from the original Town Hall) was found. Some six months later the second plaque (commemorating the construction of the separate Council Chambers building) was also found.

 

UPDATE - November 2018. The original "Town Hall Plaque" dicussed immediately above, and that couldn't be located but was thought to be stored in a safe place, was indeed found.

Because of its relatively small dimensions compared to later plaques on display around the new Town Hall, it was decided to mount this "old" plaque withing a new larger plaque that matched the general size and style of the other plaques at Town Hall

 

The new plaque (containing the old plaque from the original Town Hall) was mounted on the wall of Town Hall near the main entrance door and next to the stained-glass window (extreme right) which also came from the old Town Hall.

The plaque was dedicated on the last day of November 2018 by Mayor John Radford (left) with Councilman Gary Waldeck looking on (right)

 

So much for the early plaques that commemorated the the original Town Hall and subsequent addition of "Council Chambers".

The plaques below are not shown in any particular sequence, such as alphabetic or chronological. Instead they are presented randomly as one might encounter them over time while living in town.

 

 

On Altamont Road at the upper end of Byrne Preserve - roughly opposite Tripoli Court. (Detail in next image)

 

Enlarged detail from previous image

 

Located in Byrne Preserve under an California Buckeye tree - about half-way up the hill towards the crest of the hill with the two Oak Trees at its summit, opposite the barn driveway.

 

Under an Oak tree at intersection of Moody Road and Old Snakey

 

On the main door of the little barn for horses of the "Riding for Handicapped" horses at Westwind

 

Just outside the door at the Western end of the main aisle at Westwind Barn.

 

Just below the previous plaque outside the door at the Western end of the main aisle at Westwind Barn.

 

On the wall of Town Hall as you walk from flag pole towards the main Lobby entrance.

 

Outside Council Chambers next to the side-door near the back

 

Underneath the Oak tree between the Town Hall Lobby and Council Chambers.

 

In front of the Cupola at the Northern end of Council Chambers

 

Corner of Fremont Road and Miranda.

 

At the intersection of O'keefe Lane with Normandy Lane - under a Pepper tree on the South side of O'Keefe

 

On the same rock as the previous plaque - at the intersection of O'keefe Lane with Normandy Lane (Can also be seen the the newsclipping immediately below)

 

Some newspaper clippings from that era, the last one (immediately above) indicates some irritation about slow-moving progress in placing the plaques.

 

At St. Luke's Chapel in the Hills, there are two plaques which are located as indicated by the arrows in this image

 

On the actual building at St. Luke's Chapel in the Hills, it raises the question as to where sites numbers 2 through 9 might be...

 

Next to St. Luke's Chapel in the Hills (on the left) can be found a small garden fountain with this plaque in front.

 

In the Saddle Mountian area of Town along the side of an off-road pathway is this plaque.

 

On the south side of Arastradero between Page Mill and Saddle Mountain, about 200 ft up the hill from the "Park and Ride"

 

Purissima Playing Fields

 

Purissima Playing Fields, close to the border with the Freeway

 

Town's Corporation Yard next to Purissima Playing Fields

 

On a pillar associated with the entrance to the original Shumate Estate
This is one of a pair of pillars - this one with the plaque is on the corner of Fremont Road and Concepcion Road (opposite the entrance to Town Hall Car Park).

 

Town Dog Park between the Town's Corporation Yard and the intersection of Purissima with Elena

 

Originally located on Fremont Road, but subsequently removed as Historically incorrect, curretly stored in the Town Corporation Yard

 

And that's all folks! Should you know of any commemorative plaque in town that is not covered by this page, please inform the Town's History Committee so that we can rectify that omission.

(Remember, the intent is to cover plaques or similar markers that commemorate Historic events or places or buildings in our town. The intent is not to create an exhaustive catalog of all types of plaques including such as those identying sculptures or other kinds of art works.)