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The Los Gatos Library - Local History Volunteers are excited to share historical facts and information about the Town of Los Gatos. Many of these stories have originated through the work that they have been doing during their work in our Local History room at the library. Each issue will highlight interesting facts and stories about the people and events that have helped make Los Gatos such a wonderful place to live, work, and play. We hope you enjoy reading.
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Contact the Los Gatos Library
408-354-6896 Hours:
Monday 11AM - 8PM
Tuesday 11AM - 8PM
Wednesday 10AM - 6PM
Thursday 10AM - 6PM
Friday 10AM - 6PM
Saturday 10AM - 5PM
Sunday 12PM - 5pm eMail the History Collection Volunteers
history@losgatosca.gov
Local History Room
408-399-5795
Volunteer Hours:
Mondays 1PM - 5PM Wednesdays 10 AM - 12PM
Thursdays 1PM - 5PM
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itunes store or Google Play Store for Android devices. Enjoy a unique perspective on Los Gatos with our Free series of self-guided historical walking tours. |
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photo courtesy historylosgatos.org Clarence Hamsher Collection Located on the northeast corner of East Main and Pleasant Streets, this hotel began with the construction of the Coleman House prior to 1881. Originally called the Coleman House, it then became the Alpine, the Rockhaven, and finally on April 20, 1891, the El Monte. This view looks west down East Main Street from El Monte hill showing the hotel in the early 1890s. In 1877, 33-year-old Charles Parr, son of Jonathan and Eliza Jane Parr, argued with three "Spaniards" in front of the Coleman House and was murdered. On July 3, 1909 an arsonist set fire to the big hotel. ******************* Today on the corner of Main and Pleasant you will find the Self Realization Fellowship Church. Much thanks to Peggy Conaway for identifying the current location of the old El Monte and providing the below picture. |
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There is one exception to the aforementioned five Sister Cities’ agreements. A two year Sister City agreement was reached between Los Gatos and a city in the southern part of the United States. On August 27, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, crushing and flooding the town of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Most of the news attention was focused on New Orleans but damage throughout the region was pervasive. In early December, a group of concerned members from Calvary Baptist Church and the United Methodist Church contacted Los Gatos Town officials and indicated they had identified a town in Mississippi in dire straits which had similar population numbers and like cultural interests. Los Gatos Mayor Diane McNutt asked for a Los Gatos Town-to-Town Consortium, “a community effort to lend encouragement and assistance to the recovery and rebuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi.” Los Gatos thus acquired another Sister City for a very specific and compelling purpose. McNutt and her husband traveled to Pascagoula that month of December, 2005 and were stunned to see the damage still in evidence 100 days after the catastrophe. 90% of the city’s homes were damaged or destroyed. Most businesses were closed, only one restaurant remained open. Piles and piles of debris remained on city streets. City Hall was closed, the library was closed, no recreation facilities were available. 85% of the vehicles in Pascagoula were destroyed, and roads were full of ruts and potholes. Grateful residents of Pascagoula, Mississippi In February 2006, the first of several assistance teams left Los Gatos to help their Sister City in need. Houses were repaired and sports equipment was sent to help provide some sense of normalcy for the youth of the city. Los Gatos Little League members contacted their counterparts and sponsored a golf outing which raised $1,000. Service groups collected funds. St. Mary’s Church sent $9,500 to Sacred Heart Church in Pascagoula to underwrite African American students’ tuition, to assist a pharmacy serving the Hispanic community and to help furnish the rectory. Mayor McNutt was deeply impressed by the need for emergency services to be in place for any community. Evacuation routes should be identified, fire and police capabilities ensured, shelter and food centers recognized. On August 27, 2006, Pascagoula Day was declared in Los Gatos in recognition of the anniversary of the tragedy. Assistance teams were to leave for the gulf town in the fall of 2006 and into 2007 to continue their efforts to help rebuild the community physically, spiritually and emotionally.
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Before 1891, residents in the Los Gatos area had no official fire department to protect them. Instead, volunteers rang church bells and rushed to put out the fire. However, on August 24th, 1891, after a pair of devastating fires, a permanent firefighting organization was formed. With this new organization came the need for a dedicated bell to alert volunteer firefighters. This request was met with opposition, claiming that the multiple church bells in town were enough. Yet, after a petition and a few years of fundraising, the Town Board signed an agreement with Hume Company for a new alarm system in 1899. This agreement included a system of six fire alarm boxes, a 1500 pound bell with electric bell-striker, and a 60-foot tall wooden tower to house the bell. The total cost was estimated to be anywhere from $1,500-$2,250 and the tower was to be located on W. Main and Montebello.  Three months after the contract was signed, the Hume Company recommended that a steel tower be built instead of a wooden one. The Town approved of this change. However, the steel tower and 1500 pound bell proved unsatisfactory and a wooden tower with a new 2500 pound bell was built near Lundy Lane in October 1899. Two years later, the wooden tower burned down in the great fire of 1901 and its bell received three cracks. Still, another wooden tower was built to hold the bell in the same spot later that year. In 1912, PG&E bought out the Los Gatos Gas and Electric Company and assumed responsibility for maintaining the bell tower. In 1926, the wooden tower was replaced with a steel structure located off University Avenue just east of Main Street. This bell tower was later deactivated and sold in 1947 to John Whisenant who eventually sold it to the owner of a “Chicken Kitchen” in Lodi, a town in the San Joaquin Valley. The tower and bell were eventually purchased by a Mr. Pollard who owned a "Chicken Kitchen" Restaurant on Highway 99 south of Lodi. From the John Baggerly Collection www.historylosgatos.org |
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Source 5: Joanne Talesfore
In 2008 I first realized that the southeast corner of the main Old Town building, once the University Avenue School building, was where Miss Van Meter cast her educational spells. I came to this realization during one of the many reenactments of characters from Los Gatos history that occur in this history-conscious town.
This reenactment was called "A Walk In and Out of the Past." For this event, Los Gatos Planning Commissioner Joanne Talesfore was demurely costumed as Miss Van Meter. She was stationed near the fateful corner and pointed out to me “the sunny room.”
Joanne was also the first to tell me that Miss Van Meter had a nickname when away from the classroom, among friends and family, perhaps tooling around in her Model A coupe. Louise was also known as “Lulu.” I love it.
I drove over to Old Town today, a beautiful March afternoon in 2016, to see the site of Miss Van Meter’s former classroom . I believe she would be delighted that it is at or right next door to a business establishment named Papyrus (the name for the paper manufactured in Ancient Egypt) and that it sells notepaper and cards that people still write on by hand!
The spirit of Lulu expects writers to use the Palmer Method of even, rounded, clear letters written in straight lines. Be creative in what you write, but remember there are still standards. Miss Van Meter is watching. Published Sources:
Legendary Locals of Los Gatos, by Peggy Conaway Bergtold and Stephanie Ross Mathews, Arcadia Publishing, 2014
The History of Los Gatos, Gem of the Foothills, by George G. Bruntz, Valley Publishers, 1971
Distinguished educator left her mark in town, by Mardi Bennett, Los Gatos Weekly Times March 27, 1991, available in History section of Los Gatos Public Library in Local Legends Research notebooks
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Upcoming Exhibits: Saturday & Sunday, April 22 & 23 New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) is proud to present the 22nd Los Gatos Historic Homes Tour.The Tour takes place on April 22 and 23, 2017, 10am-4pm each day. New this year is a series of supporting programs and events taking place throughout the week leading up the Tour weekend. This popular bi-annual community showcase is NUMU’s largest fundraising event. All proceeds from ticket and ad sales benefit programs and exhibits at NUMU, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. This year’s Tour returns to the Almond Grove Historic District and features distinctive and unique homes giving tour goers the opportunity to take a close and leisurely look at one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Gatos, dating from the mid 19th century. The featured home on the 2017 Tour is located on Glen Ridge Avenue – the famed ‘White House’ which has recently undergone a spectacular three year restoration. A ‘bonus’ home will be revealed to ticket holders on the first day of the tour. Ticket price is $50 and includes admission to both Tour dates, April 22 and 23 as well as admission to a panel discussion on Historic Homes Architecture and Restoration at NUMU on Thursday evening, April 20. A $75 limited VIP ticket is also available and includes admission to the Tour, panel discussion, and a private reception hosted by the newly opened Whitney Modern in downtown Los Gatos on Friday evening, April 21. Historic Homes Tour tickets are available for sale online at www.numulosgatos.org/hht or by phone, 408-354-2646. M U S E U M H O U R S Wed 1pm-5pm Thur 11am-8pm Fri- Sun 11am-5pm A D M I S S I O N S General Admission is $10 FREE for members and visitors under 18 years of age Seniors, military and students $6 with valid ID Members also receive free admission to select Programs and Events. See what is coming up and consider joining us. Free Member Events. |
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 Lyn Dougherty
Local History
Volunteer |
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 Betty Chase
Local History
Volunteer |
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 Trish Smalling Goldfarb
Local History
Volunteer |
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Kathy Morgan Local History Volunteer |
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Blake Thomas Local History Volunteer |
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Jeanette Rapp Local History Volunteer |
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Local History Volunteer Coordinator |
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