“Growing Up in Los Altos”

Recently, I finished a little book that I enjoyed: “Growing Up in Los Altos” by Barbara Collins Callison.

One thing that catches my attention is mention of playing in Adobe Creek during the summer. In more recent times, it dries up before making it through what is now Shoup Park (although the section in the area she mentions does maintain at least some moving water… probably not enough to play in as she mentions)

Summers in Los Altos were the best! In the 1940’s, there were no movie theaters, public swimming pools or recreation classes… On a real hot day, we headed to Adobe Creek which wound through Los Altos behind University Avenue. In the 1940’s the homes along University backed up to the creek but there were no fences. We had access to the creek by the road leading to the Jesuit retreat, El Retiro, at 662 University Avenue, and could follow the creek for a mile or so by taking off our shoes to wade down the middle of the creek. There was plenty of poison oak and blackberries hanging over the creek and we invariably caught poison oak… We always found salamanders, newts, crayfish and an assortment of fish, frogs, and insects… Today, most of these animals have disappeared.

p. 11, “Growing Up in Los Altos” by Barbara Collins Callison

She goes on to lament how property owners by the 1960s had fenced off the creek, making it impossible to repeat her childhood escapades with her own kids.