Looking Back, Moving Forward
WAR!
That was the local headline in the early 1950s. No, it wasn’t Korea. It was the battle for Los Altos’ independence as a separate, incorporated Village. This meant, in the eyes of many people, a break away from Mountain View.
In June 1950, Michael F. Dowley, chairman of the Los Altos Incorporation Committee began a comprehensive article by pointing out that most of the area’s early settlers saw no reason for incorporating. He noted that, up until the mid-1940s the residents of Los Altos were orchardists, retirees, and a few local business operators. Many others kept only summer homes and really had no strong feelings on the issue. Local affairs were evidently well managed by the county supervisors in San Jose and all was well.
Everything was blissful and, presumably, static. The “don’t change” proponents reminded others that Los Altos was off the beaten track and, in all probability, it would be many years before congestion would affect the then-empty areas between here and South San Francisco, which would eventually drive home-seekers this far south.
But then Mr. Dowley countered with an extremely strong argument for incorporating. Failure to do so, he suggested, would be “shirk(ing) the responsibilities circumstances have imposed upon the local residents.” The results would be a division in the population – those for and those against going their separate ways. By not incorporating, Los Altans would have “forsaken our duty to look after our own affairs and will have missed the opportunity, still afforded, to make Los Altos the city each one of us in our hearts hopes it will be.”
The “Los Altos News” offered its support via an interview with the local postmaster, P. W. Helena. The postmaster pointed out that the population of Los Altos had increased rapidly – 250 percent since 1943.
That was the year it had moved into a new facility which was now, in 1950, woefully inadequate. Mr. Helena also noted that the growth was not over.
More and more people would be arriving and, while that growth was bringing many advantages to the area, it also meant that the citizens would need to put into place the guidelines and controls for future expansion.
Next week: The rest of the pro-incorporation story, the rally of those against the issue, and the decision, which you already know!
The Hills are members of the Los Altos History Museum. Send comments to [email protected].
