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 originated from the interesting work they have been doing in our Local History room at the library. Each issue will highlight 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 Local History Room 408-399-5795
Volunteer Hours: Mondays 1PM - 5PM Tuesdays 2PM-4PM Wednesdays 10 AM - 12PM Thursdays 1PM - 5PM
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Join us on one or both of our History nights taking place at the New Museum's Los Gatos (NUMU). We will be showing off images from the library's local history collection that need identification. Attendees will be invited to try and identify these images and share their stories of town life back in the day. Many photos come from the 40's, 50's and 60's. If you are a long time Los Gatos resident then you would be perfect for our event. Come mingle with other Los Gatos residents who enjoy talking about the way things used to be. Light refreshments and music performed by local musician Richard Katz starts at 6PM July 21st 6PM - 7:30PM August 18th 6PM - 7:30PM RSVP to mmaglio@losgatosca.gov
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In 1991, due to the recent breakup of the USSR, the Baltic states created an opportunity for cultural and informational exchange with the West. Brent Ventura, Mayor of Los Gatos, initiated a resolution to invite Tallinn, Estonia to be a Sister City. He did it in honor of his mother, a native Estonian, because she was so pleased to know that Estonia was no longer dominated by the USSR. With the consent of the Town Council, Brent wrote to the newly established Mayor of Tallinn inviting him to accept our invitation to become Sister Cities with Los Gatos. After a slight delay, a response was received from officials in Tallinn indicating they were agreeable to the relationship. On October 7, 1991, the Los Gatos Town Council passed the resolution for Tallinn, Estonia to become a Sister City. In a UNESCO World Heritage Site description it notes that Tallinn is the Silicon Valley of the Baltic Sea. Interestingly, Clayton and Sue Bruntz, members of the original selection committee, visited Tallinn in the late 1990s and were not aware that it is a Sister City! They reported that Tallinn is beautiful and charming. They were delighted to see girls selling strawberries on cobblestone streets and discerned a very entrepreneurial atmosphere. Skype was a startup developed in Tallinn. (to be continued)
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From the History collection of postcards this photo shows the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street in the early 1900’s The only buildings that remain today are the Rankin block on Montebello and Main Street, the La Canada building on the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street and the Ford Opera Building on Main Street. Note the row of houses at the top of the picture. This is the beginning of houses being built on Glen Ridge Avenue. Each building site in the 100 block of Glenridge was sold with 5 feet of property on the other side of the street so development would not block sunrise view of town.
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This wooden bridge was the first of substance built over Los Gatos Creek at Main Street. It was built in 1882. Earlier bridges could not withstand the floods of the creek in the winter because they were built too low. Even so, a team driven across this bridge had to go down a steep incline to reach the bridge and up another on the other side. The old wooden bridge was replaced by this beautiful bridge completed on March 5, 1906. It was made of concrete and rubble stone and reinforced with steel. It was built to “last for a century” and probably would have. Unfortunately, it had to be demolished in 1954 because of the need for a wider crossing. Dynamite had to be used because a “headache ball” swung from a towering boom could not crumble the old span. The April 18, 1906 earthquake that occurred just weeks after its completion caused absolutely no damage. People walking on today’s span built in 1954. The following is a link to a “Secrets of Los Gatos” youtube video. It shows the 1882 bridge at street level and highlights the infamous vigilante hanging that took place from that bridge. The mural under the bridge is also shown. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6ccp6Mq8w
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"There are views of matchless beauty From every cottage door-- The Mountains! O the mountains! And the valley's painted floor, Bedecked with homes and hamlets As it northward fades away, Till its orchards, groves, and gardens Kiss the waters of the bay." A. B. Smith Contributed by Trish Smalling Goldfarb From The Raven, The California Monthly, 1905
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Open Exhibits: Mitchell vs. Steinbeck May 12, 2016 – September 11, 2016 Through research, documents, photos, ephemera and interviews Mitchell vs. Steinbeck will look at the historical events that inspired John Steinbeck to write The Grapes of Wrath, and the controversy, and literary duel with a neighboring Los Gatos novelist, Ruth Comfort Mitchell, through her book Of Human Kindness. Script & Scribble: The Art and History of Handwriting May 19, 2016 - September 4, 2016 Script and Scribble: The Art and History of Handwriting will examine the value of practicing traditional handwriting in a world that is increasingly concerned with abbreviated communication, and what the possible extinction of penmanship might mean. This exhibit will weave together the history of writing implements and scripts, the golden age of American penmanship, the growth in popularity of graphology and handwriting analysis. 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 $9 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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Richard Katz Local History Volunteer
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Jeanette Rapp Local History Volunteer
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Joe Sordi Local History Volunteer
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Local History Volunteer Coordinator
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