The original Addison, Walter Hays, and earlier demolished Mayfield elementary schools were all built in the mid-1920s and shared a similar architectural style.

Curious...did the same architect design all three schools?

Of note...Addison was originally conceived of as a high school before Paly was built.

Walter Hays School holds a special place in my heart, as it is where I met my wife during our kindergarten years.

Throughout the years, the school has experienced growth and transformation, yet it has always maintained its foundational values of respect and inclusivity. The unwavering commitment and passion of its teachers and staff have made Walter Hays School a truly special school.

As the oldest continually operating elementary school in Palo Alto, Walter Hays School has become an important institution in the community, with generations of families sharing cherished memories and experiences. My wife and I feel fortunate to be part of this legacy and are eager to join the festivities alongside other fellow alumni.

I researched Ms. Miller's question. Walter Hays was designed by Charles K. Sumner. Web Link Mayfield school was designed by Henry C. Smith. Web Link Addison was designed by Birge Clark. Web Link I attended Walter Hays 1949-56.

Good for Walter Hayes Elementary. Mayfield Elementary on ECR campus is historic too. The campus took in school children while Addison got a re-do in 1968. Now that same plot of land is a schlock, very low income Mayfield Related Place residence. PA/Stanford rewrites history while the Mayfield Place tenants live under the heavy weight of loss of agreement promises of a city wrongs. Example: can’t have speed pumps on the Stanford right away. Why ? because Stanford says so.

@Native to the BAY...while the architectural design of Mayfield Place leaves something to be desired, isn't this housing concept the ideal way for Palo Alto to address its housing needs?

The location is convenient and the complex provides all of the amenities that most residents need.

The old Mayfield School was demolished decades ago and the acreage was put to good use.

Look at Mountain View...by selling off the old Mountain View High School property on Castro Street to developers, the school district made a windfall and the mixed-used buildings that were later built there provide housing and commercial space + a park, not to mention that the old high school building needed a seismic retrofit which is very costly.

Addison and Walter Hays were modernized justifying their continuance.

With Ventura, Escondido, and Nixon elementary schools within close proximity, there was no longer any need for an antiquated Mayfield School.

During the 1950s, our family resided in Southgate (near Peers Park) and my younger siblings attended Mayfield School while I attended Harker Military Academy due to disciplinary reasons.

At the time (1950s-60s) and in terms of its student demographics, Mayfield School was the only truly integrated elementary school in Palo Alto.

Addison and Walter Hays had a predominantly white student population while Mayfield was comprised of white students from the Evergreen, Southgate, and College Terrace neighborhoods + various students of color (mostly African American and Asian American) from the South Palo Alto and north Ventura neighborhoods.

Even in those days, certain Palo Alto neighborhoods were viewed as more desirable and affluent than others.

Crescent Park was always considered the 'creme de la creme' of Palo Alto residential neighborhoods and not surprisingly, many of its well-to-do white residents often had regular gardners and domestics (people of color who resided in the South Palo Alto and Ventura neighborhoods).

Times have changed and those older working-class homes in south PA command high asking prices these days.

My parent's first home in South Palo Alto cost them $10K in 1950 and today lists for $3M.

Though Mayfield Place might look like a projects type residential facility, because it is situated in Palo Alto, it cannot be considered as one.

@Native to the BAY....would you rather have a dilapidated and vacant old school building on the property or a practical residential community that serves Palo Alto on a far larger scale?

Though the Mayfield Place outlay and design may appear unappealing to some, for others it provides a modern day living experience with all of the conveniences.

@Native to the BAY:

Mayfield Place is a palace compared to many of the apartments in urban China and India.

I have been to both countries and would rather reside at Mayfield Place than in the highly condensed apartment residencies of Shanghai and Calcutta.

Wealthy and privileged Palo Altans have a different perspective than those of the humble working class.

I believe the same architect designed Foothill College, Henry M. Gunn, and Chester F. Awalt (now Mountain View) high schools during the early 1960s.

Prior to that, midpeninsula high school designs shared similar appearances like the former Cubberly High School, Los Altos High School, Menlo-Atherton and other local elementary/secondary schools.

Palo Alto, Fremont (Sunnyvale), and Sequoia high school designs are reflective of an earlier time frame as multi-story schools are now passe.

I had the opportunity to attend Walter Hays from K-6th grade through 1969 and it was special. As "graduating" 6th graders, we were kept informed of the city's plans to remodel the school in 1970, and were encouraged to create historical projects. I didn't realize how great it was until I started at Jordan in the Fall that same year and felt the negative culture change. Thanks to its proximity to Stanford, Walter Hays was a naturally diverse experience, from people to education and technology. It was so inclusive that 7th grade at Jordan felt backward and harsh. Walter Hays' proximity to Rinconada Park and Children's Museum and Library were a luxury I hadn't yet realized. This school, and its surroundings, are important parts of Palo Alto history.

Re architects: Ernie Kump designed Foothill. Web Link I could not (easily) find info for Mayfield School or Awalt HS.

My grandfather, Alfred Johnson, was the building contractor for the building of the Walter Hays School. Both my father and uncle attended the school.