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.

Almost opposite the main Lobby entrance at Town Hall, mounted on the serpentine "Donor Wall".

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 Northern wall of Council Chambers (i.e. behind the dais) but partly hidden by foliage is the Cupola from the old Town Hall

Detail of the plaque in front of the Cupola

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. From a search at the Los Altos Museum, we discovered that Ray Carrington served as the Bus Driver for the original Purissima School (the structure that eventualy became the chapel) - he had a daughter Alma Carrington Taylor who attended the school as a child in the 1920's, and who helped organize the 50th reunion in the 1970's some time (Exact date unknown)

Next to St. Luke's Chapel in the Hills (On a path off the main driveway entrance and located at the base of the flagpole) an old plaque was discovered which had deteriorated over time to where the inscription could no longer be deciphered. After the original text for that plaque was found in Florence Fava's book on the history of the Town, a new plaque was contructed and rededicated at a brief ceremony in December 2021.

Following is the text of remarks made by the Mayor at the rededication ceremony for this plaque.

Good Afternoon My name is George Tyson, and I am (as of very recently) Mayor of Los Altos Hills, and as such it is my honor to be invited to the re-dedication of a plaque on this spot, a plaque that commemorates the role this place had in the founding of our town For it was right here, that a few local residents met to discuss the idea of forming a town back in the early 1950’s – so nearly 75 years ago or so. At that time, a water tower stood where this flagpole stands today, and on that same platform, was mounted one of those agricultural windmills used for pumping water. As far as we can tell from an old photo, the small wooden building right next to this flagpole was the school’s cloakroom and the one room schoolhouse became what is now the Chapel. According to Florence Fava’s book "Los Altos Hills – A Colorful Story", the building’s history dates back to April 29, 1901, when the Purissima School District voted to establish a school in the Hills. While a permanent location was sought, the first classes commenced on September 10, 1901, and were held in Captain Mex’s Fruit Shed until February of 1902, when it moved to its present site. The schoolhouse served not only as school but as a Church and Sunday School as well as a Public Library and a social center in the summers. After a half century of service, it was abandoned in 1953 and sold to Rita Duval for $11,445 who rented the former schoolhouse out for social events and meetings. As the local schoolhouse, it was the first focal point of what was to become our community. Not only because it was the school where local residents brought their kids to school, but because this room also functioned as an informal meeting place for local community members to get together. It was in this room – the default focal point of the community – that half-a-dozen local residents met to consider forming their own town, so that they could have more of a say in how the town developed and would evolve over time. It took a year or two of hard work, but in early 1956 there was a vote on the ballot to incorporate the Town of Los Altos Hills. That vote passed by a handsome margin and the former schoolhouse was rented to the Town for its first Town Hall. In the last half of 1966. The Episcopal Layman’s group purchased the two acres and buildings, for $24,000, and and the school house became the “Chapel in the Hills”. In the fall 1968, the flagpole was erected, and a brass plaque was placed at the foot of it. The plaque, while it still exists, became unreadable over time. The simple engraved brass plate became corroded, and the shallow inscription faded from sight. So it is fitting, and with great pleasure, – on behalf of the Town of Los Altos Hills - that we offer this newer plaque to the church - and to rededicate the spot where this flagpole stands – on a symbolic rock marking the spot of the original haven where the heart of our community was formed, - and which over the last many years – and to this day - houses, represents, and stands for - the values that we aspire to in our community. Thus, it is with great pleasure that we re-dedicate this spot both metaphorically and physically at the heart of our community, that I unveil this plaque. December 17, 2021

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

Sadly the worse for wear, and almost forgotten is this plaque.

To find it, you need to go via Robleda, almost to the end of Duval Lane - and then take the path that connects to Josepha. On reaching Josepha, jog slightly West on Josepha and take the path over the bridge into Foothill College. (The creek involved here is Purissima Creek, which continues along the edge of the Foothill College Parking Lot to continue under Highway 280 and flow through the O'Keefe Open Space property and to eventually join Adobe Creek)

For convenience and ease of reading, here is what the plaque says -

FOOTHILL COLLEGE BRIDGE Built in the Year Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Seven In Cooperation With The Town of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College, & The Los Altos Hills Horsemans Association For The Enjoyment of All Path Users With Special Thanks To Bob Stutz Project Coordinator President LAHHA 1985-1989

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.)