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Programs
Upcoming program -
Peter Coutts: His Farm in Mayfield and His Legacy
Sunday, February 2, 2025
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Palo Alto Art Center
1313 Newell Road
Palo Alto
A Frenchman who called himself Peter Coutts arrived in Mayfield almost exactly 150 years ago and departed six years later. Ever since then he has been talked about and called "mysterious" and "eccentric." What did he do here, and why did he inspire so much colorful folklore' Who later lived and worked in the buildings he left behind, and what impact did their presence have?
The tale shared by our guest speakers, Sunny Scott and Mary Montella will include long-horned Scottish cattle, two towers, a quaint Swiss Cottage and many rare 16th-century books. You will discover where remnants of the Coutts farm can be found today on the Stanford campus. Was there a cave full of stolen treasure and an illicit love affair? Join us and find out!
Sunny and Mary have been delving into the life and legacy of Peter Coutts and his buildings for longer than they might confess. They aim to publish a book on this subject in the near future. Together, they were honored with the 2018 Karen Bartholomew award for their exceptional service to the Stanford Historical Society.
Sunny Scott Since 1989, Sunny has resided on campus in a 1936 house designed by William W. Wurster, surrounded by a Tommy Church garden. Before her campus life, Sunny was an interior decorator, historic preservationist, fine artist, and graphic artist. Her contributions to Stanford include work on the Stanford Historic Houses book series (2008-2016), serving on the Stanford Historical Society Board and Publications Committee, and capturing history as the photographer for SHS, aiding various publications and programs.
Mary Montella A former musician and lawyer, Mary's interest in local history was sparked by moving into an 1886 house in San Francisco. Her fascination with architecture soon extended to the captivating stories of the residents. Her involvement with the Stanford Historical Society's Historic Houses Committee began in 2009. Mary has contributed chapters to two books in the SHS Historic Houses series.
Peter Coutt's Tower
Future Public Programs -
Reserve the following dates for upcoming PAHA programs: • March 2, 2025 • May 4, 2025 • June 4, 2025
Be sure to check the website for updates.
Recordings and General Program Information
PAHA programs are recorded. DVDs of the programs can be checked out from the Archives at Cubberley Center, Room-7. Recordings of our programs, titled "Heritage", are broadcast on local cable public access.
If you missed the December 1st program, A Tribute to Bo Crane, you can find the video at Vimeo.
Also on the Vimeo site you will find programs from past seasons, including the December 2021 program Life in the Frank Lloyd Wright Hanna House with Karen Holman and John Hanna, and PART: Palo Alto "Rapid" Transit with PAHA Historian Steve Staiger presented in January 2022.