Ceremony marks dedication of new C.H.P. Station
The Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise | Thursday, May 16, 1957.
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The clouds managed to hold off threatened sprinkles during the dedication of the new California Highway Patrol building on Highway 99 last Wednesday afternoon, thus keeping the unpaved entrances accessible to the 100-or-so persons assembled for the open house.
Deputy Commissioner Ross McDonald, from Sacramento, gave a brief but interesting history of the progress of the CHP in his dedicatory address.
December 1, 1938 marked the establishing of a patrol area in Soledad Township, under the command of Captain L.B. Kennedy, with a complement of 10 officers and one clerk, one officer being assigned to the Antelope Valley district. The facility of a room in the Sheriff's office was used until the completion of a CHP building on north San Fernando Road, on July 15, 1941. The personnel was increased to 35.
Two years ago, a sub-station was established in the Antelope Valley at Lancaster to handle the increased traffic movements caused by the development of the aircraft industry in the valley.
With the increase of vehicular traffic in this area, it became necessary to establish a new patrol office on U.S. 99. These two offices now have a personnel of 57.
The building is 2,200 square feet, and has eight rooms, with plenty of parking space, including a back parking lot for eight patrol cars. Negotiations for paving the front is underway in Sacramento.
According to Commissioner McDonald, this makes 14 buildings of this type built in California within the last three years.
Three bombs, three large bangs, and three little flags dropping down from the sky preceded the raising of the colors. Art Thompson sang the national anthem, accompanied by the Hart High School band, under direction of Robert Warriner. Invocation was given by Father Henry Banks. "Cruisin' in My Model T Ford" was sung by the Barbershoppers. The song was especially appropriate, and very well sung.
Captain Edwin A. Smith gave the welcoming address. Among the visitors were Russell E. Fuson. supervising inspector, southern zone, Los Angeles; Pat Lizza, Win. D. Parks, Frank Briggs, J.C. McGinnis, Ed Carroll, Security Officer at Edwards; R.A. Kridder; Inspector A.F. Dillon, Sacramento; Lockheed Plant Protection Chief Paul Scott; Lt. Bruce Gourley, Captain Wm. Fudge, LAPD, Van Nuys; Al Warnburg, D.A. Office, Los Angeles; Lt. Dan Velasco, San Fernando P.D.; Judge MacDougall; Saugus Postmaster Leon Scammon, Cec Knaggs.
Prominently displaying their fiesta badges were Monte Odett, Walter and Allan Rueff, Mike Shannon, Al Lyons, and Warren Swenn, of San Fernando.
Sally Perry, Vera Jefferson, Pat Maxon and Betty Servoss of the Station Staff were the gracious hostesses.
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