Ord 2050 - Designating 55 Hernandez Avenue as historically and culturally significantORDINANCE 2050
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
DESIGNATING 55 HERNANDEZ AVENUE AS
HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT
THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION I
The following site is hereby designated historically and culturally significant:
HD -98 -1 55 Hernandez Avenue
A detailed description of the designated site, the characteristics which justify designation,
and a map showing the location and delineation of the historic site, are part of this ordinance.
SECTION II
The property listed is designated to be of historic, architectural, or aesthetic significance for
the reasons listed•below:
A. Property: 55 Hernandez Avenue
B. Historic Designation No.: HD -98 -1
C. Description of Designation: 55 Hernandez Avenue
D. Description or Characteristics which justify Designation:
Alfred Malpas, manager of the Los Gatos Wine & Fruit Company, built this three
story 4,997 square foot Queen Anne house in 1887. Malpas, a native easterner, was one of
the west valley's leading fruit ranchers and a "charter citizen" of Los Gatos (being that he
met all of the Town provisions in the original Town charter when Los Gatos was
incorporated in 1887). Malpas, in conjunction with Beecher Cosgrove, was also a one time
owner of the Lyndon Hotel in approximately 1900. Between the time the house was built
and 1996, the house had five owners. One of the owners was Charles MacAbee who
invented the gopher trap which is still being manufactured in the historic MacAbee house on
Loma Alta Avenue. MacAbee sold the house to Reverend Lawrence and Katherine Taylor
in 1947. The Taylor family owned the house from 1947 to 1996.
The house is set farther back from the street than most of the houses in the
neighborhood and is surrounded by many large trees which gives it a "nestled" look. The
house is noted for its decorative facade and stained glass windows. When constructed, the
house had 54 doors, 14 rooms (exclusive of two bathrooms) and a basement. The two
bathroom's, one upstairs and one downstairs, piped in hot and cold water and gas heating
(manufactured from gasoline by Malpas) throughout the house. During the time that Malpas
lived in the house (1887 to 1904), he hand - painted the ceilings and put in a white oak
staircase, both features which are still part of the house.
The house was nearly destroyed by the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake when its seven
foot tall sandstone foundation crumbled, which resulted in the house falling seven feet and
two inches into its own basement. Financial help to restore the home was received by the
National Trust for Historic Preservation, California Family grants, the American Red Cross,
the Town of Los Gatos, and the State of California disaster assistance funds. Restoration
work was done by contractor Tim Lantz, one and one half years after the earthquake.
Restoration began in November of 1990 and was finished in April of 1996. Lantz
painstakingly returned the house to its original condition. Lantz's efforts were aided by the
fact that few changes had been made to the house over the years and that the history of the
house was well documented. Lantz received the grand prize award of the 1993 Great
American Home Award from the National Trust of Historic Preservation and the California
Preservation Foundation 1994 Preservation Design Award both for an extraordinary
earthquake recovery of the Malpas house.
E. Description of Particular Features that Should be Preserved in Addition to
those covered under Section 29.80.260 of the Town Code: None
SECTION III
This Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los
Gatos on September 21, 1998, and adopted by the following vote as an ordinance of the Town of
Los Gatos at a meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on October 5, 1998. This
ordinance takes effect 30 days after it is adopted.
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Randy Attaway, Joanne Benjamin, Steven Blanton, Jan Hutchins,
Mayor Linda Lubeck
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SIGNED: Lam-✓
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK OF THE TOWN OF L6 GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA