La Cañada History: 1950s campaign warned “Speed Kills! Take it Easy”

Ten Years Ago

It was reported that in a survey taken in the spring of 2004, La Cañada voters contacted were split on whether or not they supported the completion of the 710 Freeway. According to a spokesman for the 710 Freeway Coalition, a group hoping to see the freeway completed, it hired Godbe Research and Development to conduct the survey. The spokesman said results showed 41% of those contacted said they would support the completion while 42% opposed a project.

Twenty Years Ago

Dr. William Pickering of La Cañada Flintridge, then 83 and the former director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was named the recipient of the prestigious 1994 Japan Prize for his work in aerospace technology. The honor included a $480,000 cash prize.

Thirty Years Ago

Sunday afternoon hikers in the Angeles National Forest above La Cañada’s Bay Tree Road discovered the body of 24-year-old Keith Girdwood of Pasadena. Law enforcement officials said Girdwood had died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and had been dead for a week or more before he was found.

Forty Years Ago

No Foothill Intermediate School students were injured in the crash of two school buses after they left Disneyland following an eighth-grade “Class Day” at the amusement park. Each of the buses carried 50 La Cañada students. Shortly after leaving the Disneyland parking lot, the vehicles collided on a surface street while they were negotiating a curve. Reportedly, one driver veered into the second lane occupied by the other bus. The LCUSD’s carrier, Associated Charter Bus Co., dispatched two more buses to bring the local children home.

Fifty Years Ago

Los Angeles County’s Local Agency Formation Committee considered the matter for only 15 minutes before denying a request to annex 1 1/2 acres of uninhabited Flintridge land between Wendover Road and the city boundaries of Pasadena and Glendale. The vote was 3-2 for denial of the proposal by Larkwood Construction Company of Temple City to annex the property, comprised of two parcels, in order to complete a Glendale subdivision.

Sixty Years Ago

“Speed Kills! Take it Easy!” was the theme of the National Safety Council safe driving campaign in June 1954, sponsored locally by various organizations, including the Verdugo Foothills Insurance Assn., the La Cañada Chamber of Commerce and the La Cañada Kiwanis Club. Bumper stickers carrying the slogan were distributed in the community.

-- Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci.

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