City officials and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the Heritage House Upgrade Project, commemorating the history of Los Altos Hills alongside a tour of the historic building.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 19 coincided with the city’s 70th anniversary and featured remarks from several key figures behind the project’s completion.
From mustard fields to apricot orchards, speakers highlighted how the city of Los Altos Hills grew from undeveloped land into its modern Silicon Valley community.
“This is a tribute to how much we value history and tradition in our town,” said Los Altos Hills Mayor Rajiv Bhateja. “We care about our open spaces and rural character, but we also really value our tradition and our history. And, this is a standing symbol of that.”
Bhateja also gave thanks to everyone who made the project a reality. This included the County of Santa Clara’s Office of Supportive Housing and Community Development, the Los Altos Hills City Council, the city’s History Committee and Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee, as well as contractors and staff.
Bhateja also noted that a chunk of funding came from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant from the government of California.
Heritage House was first constructed by the Eschenbruecher family in 1908. It was originally located in Los Altos, near 2nd Street. In 1944, the house was damaged in a Page Mill Army Camp training exercise.
Heritage House was designated as a historical landmark before being relocated to Los Altos Hills in 1985.
The remodeling project aimed to update the house with modern conveniences, while maintaining its historic feel and architectural style. The new Heritage House features modern electricity, plumbing and tech products.
The building will be utilised for a variety of events, including city committee meetings, historical education, social events and community engagement.
