Fourth of July 2020

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Fourth of July Special

The history of America’s Independence Day

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ew summertime holidays elicit as much excitement as the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day in the United States. Each year, family, friends and revelers anticipate the arrival of the holiday so they can host barbecues, enjoy the sun, listen to their favorite summertime tunes, and commemorate the freedoms afforded by the monumental events that led to the holiday’s establishment.

Independence Day became a federal holiday in 1941, but July 4th has stood as the birth of American independence for much longer. July 4th marks a pivotal moment in the American Revolution.

According to PBS, the colonies were forced to pay taxes to England’s King George III despite having no representation in the British Parliament. “Taxation without representation” became a battle cry and was one of several grievances colonists had with Great Britain.

Why the 4th?

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he Continental Congress declared its independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. If that date raises an eyebrow, it should. Independence Day in the United States has long been celebrated on July 4th, which would seem to be two days late.

But upon closer examination, it seems Americans are not really celebrating their independence two days later than they should be.

According to the National Constitution Center, the Continental Congress approved a resolution declaring its independence from Great Britain on July 2. However, a document still needed to be drafted to explain the decision to the general public. Such a document was already in the works, but it took two days for the men of Congress to agree on a final version. That would have been July 4.

The resulting document, known as the Declaration of Independence, was sent to John Dunlap, an Irish printer who served under George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, who subsequently printed roughly 200 broadsides.

Still, the Declaration of Independence was not read to the public until July 8, 1776, when Colonel John Nixon did so in Philadelphia on what is now known as Independence Square. It was nearly a month later, on August 2, 1776, when most members of the Continental Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. (MC)

Conflict between the colonies had been going on for at least a year before the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in June of 1776, says Military.com.

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from England. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence is an historic document drafted

by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer of the declaration writing committee charged with putting the colonies’ sentiments into words.

Richard Henry Lee of Virginia was one of the first people to present a resolution for American independence, and his commentary was the impetus for the formal Declaration of Independence.

Patriotic Tour, Pee Wee Parade

Courtesy Photo

Residents and local businesses were called upon to decorate their areas in an Americana theme for the month of June. Spearheaded by City Council member Laurene Weste, the Patriotic Tour and Pee Wee Parade was a way for neighborhoods to come together without congregating in a crowd. For more pictures, see page P4.

INDEX Spirit of Fourths past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P2 It’s a grand old flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P5 Newhall’s first July 4th parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . P6

See FOURTH, P5

Main News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1 Lottery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7

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P2 · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

1955 Fourth of July Parade

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his is downtown Newhall’s entire 1955 Fourth of July Parade. The Newhall-Saugus Kiwanis had organized the parade until 1938, when American Legion Post 507 took it over. By 1955, however, the parade was in the hands of an association called the “Old West” which, according to historian A.B. Perkins, had “died on its feet.” As seen in this photo, fourteen people (including photographer Richard Trueblood) insisted on keeping the tradition alive. Newhall had seen a Fourth of July Parade every year since 1932, with the exception of two war years.

Participants included Clyde Houdeshell, owner of Howdy Cleaners; A.B. “Perk” Perkins; young Johnny Trueblood; Signal editor Fred Trueblood Jr. (with flag and gun); Jim Buddell (with drum); Fred Trueblood, Sr. (with crutch); Johnny Houdeshell, Clyde’s son (playing fife); Fred Trueblood III (coonskin cap and flag); Don Steward (carrying sign reading, “Don’t Let the Tradition Die”); Charles Stanley (with bass drum); Buck Pryde (with large flag); Cecil Knaggs (with baton at rest). Carrying the Union Jack and obscured by the color bearer is Bobbie Trueblood (wife of Fred Jr.), who would go on to participate in 50 consecutive Independence Day Parades in Newhall from 1946 to 1995. Not shown: photographer Richard “Gus” Trueblood.

— SCVhistory.com

The history of Old Glory Facts about the American flag: how it came to be, the significance of its colors and how it received its nickname

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ational flags serve to unite citizens of a given country. Flags wave proudly in front of government buildings and schools, and they also identify athletes during international sporting competitions. In many countries, flags also serve as symbols of honor for members of the military and their families.

For more than 200 years, the American flag has been a symbol of unity and pride in the United States. The red, white and blue flag has a storied history and has gone through various incarnations.

The following are some of the more interesting facts pertaining to the American flag.

Signal file photo

Making pancakes during the Fourth of July festivities has been a tradition passed on from generation to generation.

Spirit of the Fourths past

By Daniel Hon The Signal July 1, 1988

A kaleidoscope of pancakes, barbecued beef, balloons, queens, carnivals, dances, fireworks, flags, floats, parades, shootouts, high stakes poker games, low stakes bingo, greased pigs and poles, speeches, rodeos, cotton candy, watermelons, traffic, heat, wind and crowds upon crowds of people have painted the environs of downtown Newhall since the first officially sponsored Fourth of July Parade was held in 1932: the epitome of small town America in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The idea of the celebration was born during the depths of the depression when people here, as in the rest of the country, had no money to use frivolously. The town fathers wanted to give the community a day to celebrate without the need to spend a lot. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

It has been variously called The Beeg Peerade, Placeritos Days, Old West Celebration and, simply, the Fourth of July. Fireworks came to it regularly and in a big way when Pat Lizza of Bermite Powder Company first donated them to the community in 1952. Several years thereafter, the Kiwanis Club took over the display until it became too expensive for them (they broke even one year by passing the hat in

the stands).

The Mighty Signal stepped in 10 years ago and filled the gap at the last minute when no other fireworks sponsor could be found.

Magic Mountain and the Saugus Speedway have complimented The Signal’s already incomparable show over the years with their own displays. But nothing has been done to compare with the extravaganza as Hart High School that is peculiarly home grown and loved by all, especially when the popcorn is plentiful.

Three generations of Truebloods have run the whole shebang while other chairmen have come and gone after being burned out by heavy volunteerism at the beginning and ending with the gasps of the few who actually did the work.

In 1953, Fred Trueblood Sr., owner and publisher of The Signal wrote, in a moment of pique: “Staging a full day’s activities is a job of enormous proportions in a community the size of Newhall.

The number of individuals who are capable of doing things, who have the requisite imagination and energy, is a relatively small one. Then, if you subtract from this minority the competent individuals who simply will not perform what they promise, you get down to a small hard core of workers who both CAN and WILL.” The editorial was written in

sympathy for Ted Lamkin who was the president of the Old West Association and ran that year’s parade with precious little help. Not only that, but this was the year that “little Tommy Frew came as a giant firecracker” and had to be extricated from his costume: He damned near suffocated in the 105 degree heat.

Mr. Trueblood, Sr. knew whereof he spoke. He ran the affair in 1939 and 1940 and again in 1952.

Even today, burnout is a problem.

Organizations such as the Jaycees, Rotary, Optimists, Lions, Kiwanis and the overall sponsor, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, have to scramble to keep finding volunteers to take on such diverse tasks as publicity, communications, float and other entry judging, breakfasts, parade lineup, parade announcers, parade script writers, secretaries, sheriff coordination, refreshments, sign painters, VIP greeters, convertible top car owners to carry politicos in the parade itself, clean up crews and a myriad of others to handle details too numerous even to think about.

In earlier years there was even a street dance where Tresierras Market now is [24316 Main Street, Newhall — Ed.] It was the only Safeway in the valley. In 1939, Satchell McVay’s orchestra received great See SPIRIT, P5

Six different flag designs were flown before Betsy Ross announced that she had sewn the official American flag. These designs included a series of alternating red and white stripes, the Liberty Tree, the Sons of Liberty and the Forester flag designs.

The Continental Army once used a flag featuring a snake with the mantra “Don’t Tread on Me.” On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress proposed and passed the Flag Act of 1777.

This resolution was designed to facilitate the creation of an official flag for a nation that was aiming to earn its independence from Great Britain. The flag was to have thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, with thirteen white stars on a blue field. The thirteen stars signified the original members of the Union.

The American flag remained unchanged until 1795, when the stripes and stars were increased to 15 for the addition of Kentucky and Vermont to the Union.

After seeing the new stars-and-stripes flag flying over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that would eventually become the nation’s national anthem.

A sea captain from Massachusetts named William Driver named a large, 10-foot-by-17-foot flag “Old Glory” after it survived multiple defacing attempts during the American Civil War. Driver’s nickname of the flag inspired the name to be used for all American flags.

Although Flag Day was established as a formal national holiday in 1949, it was not made a federal holiday. Flag Day is only an official holiday in the state of Pennsylvania. This may be fitting because legend holds that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag in Pennsylvania.

Today’s flag features the original 13 alternating white and red stripes (in 1818, another design went into effect, permanently setting the number of stripes at 13 in honor of the original colonies) and 50 stars to represent the states of the Union. The colors of the flag signify as follows: red for hardiness and valor, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The Color Association of the United States creates the palette of colors used for both private and public institutions and the U.S. Army. Mass-market flag manufacturers tend to use Pantone Matching Shade of Dark Red (193 C) and Navy Blue (281 C).

The American Flag has been a fixture of the United States for centuries and continues to serve as a symbol of pride, valor and history. (MC)

THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · P3

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P4 · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

July 4th Patriotic Tour and Pee-Wee Parade

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THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · P5

It’s a grand old flag

By Emily Alvarenga Signal Staff Writer

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or more than 200 years, the American flag has been flown across the nation as a symbol of allegiance and pride, and the Santa Clarita Valley is no exception.

In fact, Santa Clarita is known as a patriotic town by many. Flags proudly wave on light poles down many of the streets, at homes across the city and at various schools and businesses, including some especially large flags at Camping World of Valencia and Schwartz Oil Co. at Castaic Junction.

“People tell us they love seeing (the flag) from the freeway,” Camping World spokeswoman Melissa Manning said to The Signal in a previous interview. “It’s loud and proud, and it never comes down, unless it has to be repaired.”

The massive 40-by-80-foot flag was put up three years ago, and stays up year-round, after officials at Camping World in Lincolnshire, Illinois, announced that all of the chain’s stores would be flying the massive flags in honor of veterans.

“Our company places extreme pride and value on our country and its veterans,” Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World, said in 2014, according to the company’s website. “A large percentage of our employees and also customers are veterans, and we want to honor them, their dedication to our country and to our local communities.”

While the Camping World flag is certainly the biggest flag in Santa Clarita, it is not the oldest of the giant flags in the area.

Though the Schwartz Oil Co. flag is a bit smaller at 30 by 50 feet, it has seniority as it’s been around for more than 20 years.

The owners said they’re proud of their huge flag, which can be seen from both the Interstate 5 freeway and Highway 126, and was put up by the owners because they wanted to show some patriotism.

FOURTH Continued from P1

A total of 86 changes were made to Jefferson’s original draft until the final version was adopted. The signing of the document helped to solidify

They put the flag up during the Fourth of July holiday and try to keep it up throughout the year.

“I’ve been driving past (this flag) every week for over 10 years now, and every week it makes me smile,” said truck driver Ryan Pullman.

Pullman said he drives the same route weekly, and cannot wait to see the “towering flag,” as it means he has almost made it home.

“I can’t think of a better way of honoring our country than by doing this and keeping it up as much as they do,” he added.

Smaller yet still impressive, two more local businesses along the I-5 have also put up approximately 20-by-30-foot flags.

Both Conserv Fuel, located on the 28100 block of The Old Road, and McDonald’s at the corner of The Old Road and Magic Mountain Parkway, have recently put in new flagpoles to accommodate the larger flags.

Six different flag designs were flown before Betsy Ross created the official version, and today’s flag still features the original 13 alternating white and red stripes, in honor of the original colonies, and 50 stars on a blue background to represent the states. The red signifies hardiness and valor, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Stevenson Ranch resident Shayna Reems said her 2-year-old son, Caleb, salutes — with the wrong hand, she added, laughing — every time he sees the giant flags.

“My kids love driving around town and seeing all the flags, especially the boys,” Reems said. “My oldest likes to see how many he can count in a day, though he can only count up to about 20 before he loses track and has to start over. Their dad is a U.S. Army veteran, so they know the importance of being patriotic. … This is their favorite time of the year because all the flags are out.”

A flag flies in front of the Valencia Atrium, casting multiple images in the building’s mirrored windows.

independence, and eventually lead to the formation of the United States of America.

A total of 56 delegates signed the document. Although John Hancock’s signature is the largest, it did not hold more weight than the other signatures. Rather, rumor has it, Hancock

signed it so large so that the “fat, old King could read it without his spectacles.” However, the National Archives says it was also customary that, since Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress, he be the first person to sign the document centered below the text.

Signal file photo

The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence on July 6, 1776. The first public readings of the Declaration were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square on July 8, 1776. (MC)

P6 · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

Newhall’s first July 4th parade

By Leon Worden SCVHistory.com

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t was July 3, 1930. Herbert Hoover was in the White House. The nation’s economic troubles were looking like they would get worse before they got better. Nobody was in a particularly celebratory mood, and from his tiny office and print shop at 636 Spruce Street, Signal editor A.B.”Dad” Thatcher griped about Newhall’s lackluster display of patriotism on America’s 154th birthday.

“In the old days,” Thatcher writes, “two objects were to be attained, or a (July 4th) celebration was marked down as a fizzle.

The first was to get the best known speaker possible, and the other was to buy more fireworks than (any) other town.”

The next year, 1931, was worse. Just months after Congress made the Star Spangled Banner the national anthem,

“the population of Newhall celebrated the glorious Fourth by trips in every direction, most of that direction was toward the beach.”

Then a curious thing happened. In 1932 the locals got their act together and staged one wing-ding of a July 4th show.

“The national holiday was celebrated in Newhall with the greatest and most colorful festivity that has marked the public doings in town for many years,” the everpatriotic Thatcher writes.

It seems our town mothers and fathers, most notably the realtor-turned-historian A.B. Perkins and Chevy dealer Fred Lamkin, decided that Depression or no, Newhall would have a parade.

“The parade formed on Arch Street,” Thatcher writes, “from whence it marched to Newhall Avenue, which was followed to Tenth Street (now called Lyons Avenue), turning to Spruce Street (now called San Fernando Road) and moving south

In Celebration of our Independence

HAPPY

finally Robert Poore, of Glendale, managed to overcome the slippery handicap and get the $2.50 prize.”

Evening festivities included a fireworks display on the grounds of Newhall School.

Every year after that, Newhall’s Fourth of July festivities just got bigger and bigger.

The 1933 parade saw no fewer than 27 official entries, with “about a hundred horsemen, rodeo performers, cowboys, cowgirls and movie stars.”

It is a fine tradition, one that has stayed the same more than it has changed over the years.

Sure, we’ll have a few more than 27 official entries tomorrow. More than 127, even. And the parade will draw a bit more than 2,000 spectators. It’ll likely be the biggest mass of humanity this town has ever seen at a single community event.

But this year’s “Life on the Frontier” theme isn’t too different from the “OldTime” motif of 64 years ago. And we’re bound to have some 1930s-vintageautomobiles, as well as some of the “newer things that have become a part of our community life,” as Thatcher put it.

Newhall Park will again be the venue for post-parade activities. We might not have a greased pig contest, but we’ll have pig races and all sorts of other contests at Frontier Days, which start right after the parade and run through Sunday, July 7 at the fairgrounds on Soledad Canyon Road.

And “Dad” Thatcher would be pleased to know we’ll have fireworks.

Independence Day is a special time in Newhall, where people from all over Santa Clarita come together to show their pride in the greatest community and the greatest nation on earth.

to Market Street, where it turned to the playground near the Community Church anddissolved.”

The parade had an “Old Time” theme — no kidding — with an “old-timeprospector and his family, the Mule Team freight line, cowboys, old time ranchers and others, along with the newer things that have become a part of our communitylife.”

Things like S.D. Dill’s brand-new 1932 school bus, which was “an impressive lesson of the progress both of transportation and the number of pupils.”

The “Catholic Ladies” won Sweepstakes for their model of the San Fernando Mission, complete with “Indians, Padre and other features.”

Newhall Ice — still in business today — won the “originality” prize for its blocks of ice with flowers and fruit inside.

Opal Houghton’s stunning hat won her the “best ladies costume” prize, presented

by Ruby Kellogg.

“Jess Doty and his men put on an odd stunt. A car of 1913 was shown with some wheels out of center, and known as Galloping Lizzie, was followed by one of the newestmodels.”

“Herb Ball’s freight line got stuck, and lost the water wagon, but finally got its place with the sixteen mule team.”

After the parade, “fully two thousand people milled around, visiting, greeting friends, dodging the fire crackers, and waiting the opening of the barbecue dinner. Pictures of the old timers, who were there in force, were taken.”

Politicians made patriotic speeches, and sporting events lasted until sundown.

“The greased pig and greased pole contests seemed to make the most sport, the pole climbing being continued until

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THE SIGNAL · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · P7

Creativity in motion

Rules on how to display U.S. flag

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he American flag symbolizes many things to many people.

While the American flag is proudly displayed in millions of buildings and homes across the United States year-round, it tends to draw special attention each summer, when Americans celebrate their independence on July 4.

The Flag Code formalizes and unifies the standards of respect that must be given to the flag, even containing specific instructions regarding how the flag should not be used. The following are some of the rules that govern how to display the American flag.

1 Signal file photos

1) Fred Lamkin’s Newhall Garage entry in Newhall’s 1934 Fourth of July Parade.

Lamkin operated a welltrafficked auto garage and eventually held the local Chevrolet franchise. 2) Parade participants pop up the front two wheels of their car. 3) The Masonic Club float passes by the Soledad Hotel at the southwest corner of 9th and Spruce streets in the 1930s.

4) Participants of the Fourth of July festivities in 1934 make their way down the parade route.

Raising and lowering the American flag

According to USFlag.org, the American flag should be raised quickly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.

While the Flag Code suggests the flag should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset, if it is displayed at night, it should be illuminated. The flag should be saluted as it is hoisted, and when lowered that salute should be held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the final note of music, whichever is the longest.

When displayed indoors, the flag should be displayed to the right of the speaker, staging area or sanctuary. Any additional flags hanging in the room should always hang to the left of the American flag. When flags are grouped for display, the American flag should be in the center and at the highest point of any flag.

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3

In mourning

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The American flag is often displayed in mourning. When placing the flag at half staff, first hoist it to the peak for an instant before lowering it to a position halfway between the top and bottom of the staff. During mourning, when the time comes to lower the flag, it should once again be momentarily raised to the peak before it is lowered.

The American flag is flown at half staff when mourning designated, principal government leaders. It also must be

flown at half staff upon presidential or gubernatorial order.

When covering a casket, the American flag should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder.

The flag should never be lowered into the grave

Parading the flag

When the American flag is carried in a procession, such as in a parade, the flag should always be to the right of the marchers when it is the lone flag being represented. When other flags are carried, the American flag may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. Parade audiences should salute the flag as it passes in the procession.

Flag restrictions

There are many conditions under which the American flag is not to be used. These include: The flag should never be used as a decoration. Use bunting to decorate with the colors of the American flag, always ensuring the blue stripe of the bunting is on top.

The flag should not be used as part of advertising. The flag also should not be embroidered, printed or impressed on articles such as cushions, napkins, boxes, or anything considered temporary that is likely to be discarded after use.

The flag should not be used as part of a costume. The uniforms of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations are permitted to wear American flag insignias on their uniforms.

The flag is not to be used as a receptacle to carry, deliver, hold, or receive anything.

The American flag is an enduring symbol of freedom and sacrifice to millions of people across the globe. The flag should always be displayed with the utmost respect and in adherence to the guidelines set forth by the Flag Code.

(MC)

SPIRIT Continued from P2

fanfare in The Signal as being a “colored” band.

People came from miles around to dance and be entertained by his music. Howard Wingfield won the pie-eating contest.

Queens have come and gone: Barbara Borden, the sister of long time Saugus High math teacher Judy Stevens, Barbara Ayers, Carol Shaughnessy, Jimmy Wright, Barbara McIby, Billie Sitton, Linda Pigg and one lady in the late ‘30s who was the mother of two.

Lack of music has always been a problem because of the Fourth falling in the middle of summer vacation. The paucity of bands became so acute that Signal columnist Mimi [Ruth Newhall — Ed.] was forced to dub the 1977 effort as the “Plop Plop Parade,” because the only sound that could be heard was the dropping of road apples by horses as they plodded along the route. A year or so later, poor Proposition 13 was blamed for the kids not suiting up and marching — it simply was not in the budget.

Traditionally, however, Hart and Placerita have teamed up to march in some array or other. Usually, they are not uniformed but they always sound good, especially when Larry Thornton, the venerable Hart bandmaster, puts that famous wide smile on his face and marches proud down San Fernando Road leading his latest kids in the Stars and Stripes Forever.

Until recently, gambling always found its way into the melee. It got out of hand one year when some of our more illustrious citizens set up a highstakes poker game next to the low-stakes bingo game at Saxonia Park. Money passed hands furiously. That is, the money of the outlanders passed into the hands of our card sharks, in such huge sums that the fleeced complained to out-of-town newspapers. They raised such a

Signal file photo

The roper missed and the calf heads south. There was lots of excitement at the rodeo at Castaic.

There were three days of roping, riding and Western contests. In 1973, the Fourth fell on a Wednesday but the celebration was put off to Saturday so that the parade could complement that year’s rodeo. ruckus that bingo disappeared.

Then there was Dale Taylor who became the hero of at least three of his girlfriends with whom he shared his winnings in 1956. One of the carnival games boasted huge panda bears as prizes. All one had to do was to throw a dime so that it landed and stayed in one of the glass plates affixed to the heads of the bears.

No one won until Dale came along and hitched up his pants in true Newhallian fashion. He won a bear and people yelled with glee. He won another and a crowd started to gather. He quit after winning his third, much to the disappointment of his followers and to the relief of the carny running the game.

When asked why he had quit, the young man grumped, “I ran out of chewing gum!”

Saxonia Park. The very name brings a tear of nostalgia to any of us who have enjoyed the Fourth of July in Newhall over the last 30 or so years. Located on the north end of Quigley Canyon Road in Placerita Canyon, it was started by a downtown German Club for polka dancing and beer drinking.

Nothing could match the Fourth of July in that beautiful oak tree setting. It was not unusual for the Lions Club to feed 2,000 folks beef from a pit barbecue dug days in advance.

Ten times that many cups of beer and soft drinks were sold.

If one listens carefully, the strains of Western music can still be heard wafting through the trees, intermingled with the shouts of happy kids running sack races and making themselves sick in the pie-eating contests. It was here that highstakes (I once saw as much as $4,000 on the table in the ’50s) poker games abounded.

In the 1930s, it was not uncommon for the county supervisors to give keynote speeches. Roger Jessup said, in 1933, “Of course, you folks of Saugus and Newhall know also of the splendid work being done in Bouquet Canyon, which will bring thousands of motorists through this district to reach the westside of the Antelope Valley. Such improvements, I am sure, meet with the genuine approval of my people.” Oh, if he had only known what he wrought.

Law enforcement has had its troubles. As early as 1927, the sheriff was prepared to send enforcements to Eureka Villa, if need be. He even put some of them up at Castaic just in case they were needed. They weren’t. What is now called Val Verde stayed peaceful.

However, it might have been a different story for the Cub Scouts in 1948, if it weren’t for sympathetic Highway Patrol Captain Jack Miller. The Cubs found an old Model “T” rusting in a field. They pulled it to one of their member’s backyards and got it running just in time for the parade. The problem was that it had no license tags, and no one had thought to buy them.

They knew that the car couldn’t be driven on the street without tags, but the kids didn’t have enough money. Captain Miller, hearing of their plight, let the word out that he was sorry but his men would be “too busy up on 99 catching speeders to ‘help’ patrol the parade.”

The kids breathed a sigh of relief and rode in their Model “T.” For new comers to the Santa Clarita Valley, old Highway 99 was later replaced by Interstate 5, the

Golden State Freeway.

Although the first “official” parade was in 1932, there have been years when there either was no parade or it was not run on the Fourth. Paradeless years were 1937 and 1938, as were the war years from 1942 through 1945. In 1973, the Fourth fell on a Wednesday but the celebration was put off to Saturday so that the parade could compliment that year’s rodeo. However, the inimitable Bobbie Trueblood, now Bobbie Davis, following what she saw as a family and community tradition, wanted a parade on the Fourth. Many agreed.

So, on Wednesday morning, about one 150 folks gathered at Lyons Avenue and San Fernando Road. A palanquin magically appeared with six bearers in tow. Bobbie mounted the swaying vehicle, a couple of buglers and a drummer stepped off, and the parade, without permit or traffic control, wended its way down the middle of San Fernando Road to Hart Park. There was a man marching on crutches along side of the palanquin in his World War II officer’s “pink-and-green” uniform and people are still asking, even today, “Who was that good looking stranger?”

The beer keg bringing up the rear was furnished by the Canyon Country Chamber of Commerce. The Newhall-SaugusValencia Chamber was too busy putting up the stands for one of the biggest rodeos this valley has ever seen, to participate in this rump version of their extravaganza, except at the end when the keg was tapped. Good natured rivalry came to a head when it was found that nobody could slake his or her thirst. The liquid in the keg turned to foam while being rolled along San Fernando Road.

By the way, a few years later, Bobbie’s son, Fred III, ran the parade and the celebration.

The tradition marches on.

“This year’s parade will be the biggest and best yet,” Chairwoman Jill Klajic says. “It is fun to be part of the history of small town America, and I hope that as our valley grows, the tradition of the Fourth of July will live on.”

P8 · SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 · THE SIGNAL

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