By 50 years ago in the news: An assassination attempt on President Harry Truman was foiled when White House guards shot down two armed men who stated resentment of Truman's failure to give Puerto Rico independence. Three guards were wounded in the battle.

50 years ago in Los Altos: A citizen’s group formed regarding the issue of local incorporation for Los Altos. Among its backers were Frank Costello, El Monte Avenue, and Frank Quinn of Fremont Avenue. George Lyddane of Nandell Lane circulated petitions urging those residents to oppose becoming a part of an incorporated area.

In a published statement, The Community Committee appealed to Los Altans to not sign incorporation petitions. “There’s nothing so urgent” they said, “that incorporation should be rushed through before the people have been given a fair chance to consider all the facts.” The committee said it favors formation of an impartial committee “to study fairly all sides of the question and conduct public hearings as to which areas should be included, which excluded.” The appeal closed with the admonition, “Why try to force a lot of people into incorporation in order to ease the tax load from those who want incorporation to those who don’t want it, and can’t see that they would benefit from it?”

The first Los Altos Day was held on Oct. 22 at Adobe Creek Lodge. The affair was a family day, with an emphasis on “meet your neighbor,” and rubbing elbows with all the folks who had been drawn to Los Altos. The day started with picnic lunches and swimming for those who felt so inclined. In the afternoon, a varied assortment of games occupied the children. Another topnotch feature of Los Altos Day entertainment was an amateur show, restricted to Los Altos residents. There was dancing in the evening. Sparking the event was chairman Jim Rouda. Elvira Mahoney was in charge of events. Other members of the steering committee were Ray Skerry (games); Fran Mack (attendance); Beth Wilkins (posters); Cy Horvig (printing) and Bill Bradford (prizes).

Local celebrity Del Courtney, from television KPIX, plugged the show on his regularly-scheduled weekly program. After the show, girls distributed local apricots to the audience.

A call to the Los Altos fire department brought a crew to Sylvia Avenue to rescue a Siamese cat from a palm tree. The men were unable to reach the cat with their ladder, which was short by nearly 20 feet. The only other plan was to shimmy up the tree, but none of the men were willing. Kitty was finally rescued by a private firm that built a scaffold around the tree and then used the ladder from that point.

Playing this week at the Los Altos Theatre: “Our Very Own” with Ann Blyth and Farley Granger, and “Louisa” with Ronald Reagan and Ruth Hussey.

By Donna Shoemaker for the Association of the Los Altos History Museum. E-mail: LAHistoryHouse@aol.com.