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Overview

As per a 1963 article in the Palo Alto Times, the Cowper Court Apartments was cited as the first apartment building erected in the City of Palo Alto, in 1918. According to writer Derek Schoen, “In an era when apartments are springing up around the city nearly daily, it might surprise some persons to learn that Palo Alto didn’t get its first apartment until 1918. According to City Historian Ralph Hansen, the first multiple-unit building was the Cowper Court Apartments at 520 Cowper St. Cost of the building was listed at $50,000. The price compares to the $375,000 one apartment developer is said to have paid for a fifth-of-an-acre site in the downtown area. According to historical records, the next apartment wasn’t built in Palo Alto until 1922, when two were opened. These were a two-story, four-unit development at the corner of Cowper Street and University Avenue. The following year a four-unit apartment was built in the 700 block of Bryant Street. That building is now owned and used by the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, according to Hansen.” (See Derek Schoen, "Around the Beats: Porter to resign: He denies it," Palo Alto Times, 11/16/1963, p. 20.)

The Cypress Villa apartment building stood at 525 University Avenue (on the northwest corner of University and Cowper) may have been one of the two built in 1922.The Madison apartment building at 769 Bryant, completed in 1923, was likely the one mentioned built on the 700 block of Bryant Street.

Building History

According to a 1951 article in the Daily Palo Alto Times newspaper, lumber merchant and investor Matthew Albert Harris (born 11/01/1876 in San Francisco, CA-d. 12/10/1947 in San Mateo, CA) commissioned the construction of the Cowper Court Apartments, likely in 1917. It stated on 09/27/1951: "The Cowper Court Apartments have changed hands frequently since being built in the spring of 1918 by the late Matthew Harris, one-time mayor of Atherton. The site was a portion of the Mary Gilman estate, and was sold to Harris by Mrs. Ellen C. Gilman."(See “Cowper Court Is Sold in Large 4-Way Deal,” Daily Palo Alto Times, 09/27/1951, p. 1, accessed via Newspapers.com, 12/30/2023.)

The Cowper Court Apartments were in operation at 520 Cowper Street in Palo Alto, CA, in 1926. (See Polk's Palo Alto, California, City Directory, 1926, p. 315.) A year later, eighteen residents were listed inPolk's Palo Alto, California, City Directory, 1927, (p. 248), including L.H. Anderson, K.T. Boardman, J.W. Boles, Mrs. D.R. Bonham, Mrs. K.W. Cooper, Mrs. E.E. Davis, Mrs. A.R. DeForest, Mrs. S.C. Denton, Mrs. Nancy Field, G.F. Fry, Mrs. G.M. Herrington, A.E. Hogan, F.D. Phillips, M.W. Samuels, Bryan Turner, Mrs. Nellie Wiggins, L.F. Williams and H.M. Walter. A.E. Hogan was the apartment building manager.

An article in the Daily Palo Alto Timesnoted that ownership of the apartment building changed hands in 03/1927 from a dentist, Charles Henry Strub (born 11/03/1884 in CA-d. 03.28/1958 in Los Angeles, CA), to Charles Sumner Eddy (born 02/25/1877-09/03/1945): “Charle [sic] S. Eddy, formerly of Providence, R.I. took possession today of the Cowper Court Apartments of this city, having purchased the property from Dr. Charles Strub of San Francisco. Coldwell, Coldwell & Banker of San Francisco handled the deal. The deal involved a consideration of $125,000. In part payment Dr. Strub took over Mr. Eddy’s home in Mill Valley. The Cowper Court Apartments will be conducted under the same management, that of A.E. Hogan.” (See “Apartment House Sold for $125,000,” Daily Palo Alto Times,03/08/1927, p. 10, accessed via Newspapers.com, 12/30/2023.)

Eddy died in 1945, and his possessions, including the Cowper Court Apartments, were sold by his executors, Howe and Finch, Attorneys, and the Wells Fargo Bank & Union Trust Company, on 10/22/1945. As noted in this advertisement, "All furniture, fixtures and appliances belonging to said estate situated in apartments 2, 3, #A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21," as well as the same in a cottage to the rear of the Cowper Court were to be sold. (See "Howe & Finch Attys. Notice of Sale of Real and Personal Property as a Unit No. 29740," Daily Palo Alto Times,10/15/1945, p. 9, accessed via Newspapers.com, 12/30/2023.)

The 1951 Daily Palo Alto Times article outlined the Cowper Court's ownership history: “One of the biggest real estate deals in Palo Alto’s history was consummated today to the tune of $232,500 in a four-way transaction which made Mrs, Ruth W. Freeman of Palo Alto new owner of the Cowper Court apartments at 520 Cowper St. Revenue stamps indicated the 23-year-old apartment building adjacent to the President Hotel sold for a sum in excess of $100,000. Three other property sales which preceded Mrs. Freeman’s purchase involved the residence at 616 Cowper St., and 459 and 467 Hamilton Street, all previously owned by Mrs. Freeman and sold by her to individual purchasers. No changes in the present policy of Cowper Court are contemplated by the new owner, it was said today. Eleven of the 22 apartment units are occupied by physicians’ offices. There is also a five-room cottage in the rear of the property." (See “Cowper Court Is Sold in Large 4-Way Deal,” Daily Palo Alto Times, 09/27/1951, p. 1, accessed via Newspapers.com, 12/30/2023.)

The 1951 article continued: "In 1929, Cowper Court was a part of the property holdings of Dr. Charles H. Strub, early day real estate operator in Palo Alto. After Dr. Strub sold this and other pieces, including the President Hotel and adjacent University Ave. property, he became one of the owners of the San Francisco Seals. Later the building was owned successively by Charles Sumner Eddy, Fred Hazelquist of Atherton, and Dr. John C. Almack, Stanford professor emeritus of education. Mrs. Freeman purchased it from Ingolf Christensen who had owned it since 1947.” (See “Cowper Court Is Sold in Large 4-Way Deal,” Daily Palo Alto Times, 09/27/1951, p. 2, accessed via Newspapers.com, 12/30/2023.)

This location was occupied after 1986 by the Garden Court Hotel, which became el Prado Hotel in 03/2021. (SeeMatt Villano, SF Gate.com, "Garden Court Hotel, Palo Alto," published 08/05/2010, accessed 12/30/2023 and Lloyd Lee, Palo Alto Online.com, "End of an era: Garden Court Hotel now el Prado Hotel," published 03/07/2021, accessed 12/30/2023.)

Building Notes

A lot at 538 Cowper Street, measuring 50x150-feet, had an asking price of $18,000 in 1946. (See "Doctors Lawyers Professional Men 538 Cowper Street [classified ad]" Peninsula Times Tribune, 05/17/1946, p. 9, accessed via Newspapers.com, 12/30/2023.)

Demolition

The Cowper Court Apartments was razed likely in late 1984. It was torn down to make way for a new luxury hotel development called "Cowper Square." A photograph of a groundbreaking ceremony featuring the building's developer and Palo Alto's Mayor appeared in the Peninsula Times Tribune on 03/06/1985. The caption to the photograph said: “Lending a foot to a groundbreaking Monday for a new Palo Alto luxury hotel are developer Sanford Webster (left) and Palo Alto Mayor Leland Levy. The hotel, to be known as Cowper Square, is expected to be completed by the summer of 1986. It will have 61 units, two restaurants, retail shops and underground parking. It is being built at 520 Cowper St., on the site of the former Cowper Court apartments.” (See "Off to a good start," Peninsula Times Tribune, 03/06/1985, Neighbors section, p. 1.)

PCAD id: 24903