By Aiko and Jim Hill

This is Part II of a two-part article of the “war” in Los Altos.

As you’ll recall from last week, in June 1950, the pro-incorporation forces were mounting a strong campaign. The supporting articles in the local paper continued to point out that there were already signs of trouble arising from the lack of a formal city structure. Due to the area’s unorganized state, apathy was on the rise, perhaps because of acceptance of remote control over local affairs which had become so familiar during the war years. This was eroding the famed charm of Los Altos. The incorporationists fanned the flames of fear, suggesting that chaos could result if locals were to take their situation for granted.

Along Springer Road in July of 1950, residents were getting nervous. Those on the south side of the street had waged a battle to gain a Los Altos postal address. In their petition to the Postal Commissioner, they stated: “Our interests - personal, social, and economic - are more closely tied to Los Altos than to Mountain View.”

The issue was hotly contested, but the final department decision was that Springer Road would remain the designated boundary between Los Altos and Mountain View. The impact was immediate. In August, it was announced, Springer Road residents on the Mountain View side would be receiving their mail by bicycle carrier, rather than by car.

In September, the debate continued. A citizen’s group, The Community Committee, against local incorporation for Los Altos formed. The leaders of this group included Frank Costello of El Monte Avenue, Frank Quinn of Fremont Avenue and George Lyddane of Nandell Lane. They circulated petitions urging residents to oppose the incorporation of the area. “There’s nothing so urgent,” read their flyers, “that (it) should be rushed through.”

They were trying to buy time in order to form a committee to study the question and “conduct public hearings as to which areas should be included, which excluded.” The flyer closed with a focus on peoples’ wallets. Incorporation was just a way to ease the tax load of those who wanted incorporation by using many others who don’t want it and “see no benefit from it.”

We know the result. The Nov. 25, 1952, vote recorded 2,138 for and 1,906 against incorporation. It was done. On Dec. 1, the first city council was sworn in.

The Hills are members of the Los Altos History Museum.