By Don McDonald
Incorporation leaders rounding up voters as important 1952 hearing on boundaries nears
2002 marks the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Los Altos. During the year, this column will cover what our predecessor newspapers reported 50 years ago. The following items appeared in the weekly Los Altos News of July 18 and 25, 1952:
“August 11 set as hearing date on incorporation boundaries.” This front-page article described the hearing’s purpose: “Persons protesting inclusion within the limits of the proposed city will be heard along with proponents.” A. Watson Connor, who headed the Committee for Incorporation, urged registration at once “if you hope to vote in the election,” which was to be held at least 60 days after the hearing.
“105 teachers hired, enrollment expected to reach peak of 2,850.” Contrasting these figures with the 72 teachers and 2,256 students in 1951, this article noted that the better 1952 ratio was “made possible by passage of the tax increase.”
The additional students were to be accommodated by the new wings at Hillview School and 39 new rooms at Loyola, Portola and Covington schools.
A front-page story was headlined “Local talent will be featured in initial production by Foothill Players at Pink Horse Ranch.” It was accompanied by photos of cast members Tosca Luskotof (ballerina), Dolores Kerig (mezzo-soprano), Ante Soljanich (tenor) and David Mitchell (trumpet). The program of skits, songs and dances was described in detail, and there was a separate article about Soljanich.
This “Football Follies” was the first public offering by the Foothill Players. It took place at 8:15 p.m., July 30 and 31. (Initial plans had been to perform at the group’s space on Yerba Buena Avenue. Apparently they found a better venue at Pink Horse Ranch’s Roarin’ Gulch Theater.)
Publisher/editor Matchan’s weekly column congratulated the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for giving $100,000 toward the purchase of Butano Forest, remarking, “It would have been criminal not to preserve those trees.”
An article headed “Summer in the country” described how children were enjoying school vacation time at Twelveacres School. Although the private facility’s normal enrollment was 40 students, many more could attend in the summer. Activities included craft work, talent shows, games, barbecues and campfires. (Twelve Acres Drive, Meadow Lane and Leaf Court are today on the land formerly owned by the school.)
A large Pacific Telephone ad, headed “Live TV now spans the West,” credited this to Bell System’s radio relay system and coaxial cables. It said that these facilities “… on July 7 enabled the TV network to bring the Republican Convention to the nation’s TV viewers, who will also see the Democratic Convention on July 21.”
Style’s at Rancho Shopping Center advertised that their Sealy “Golden Sleep” mattresses, normally $59.50, were reduced during the once-a-year sale, to $39.50.
The Fraters of Los Altos, Realtors, advertised a house with “3 bedrooms, 1 bath, fully landscaped with outdoor lanai and BBQ” for $12,950.
McDonald is a member of the Los Altos History Museum Association.
