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According to the book description of
Huntington Park, “Originally part of the Lugo family’s vast Rancho San Antonio, Huntington
Park evolved at the beginning of the 20th century because enterprising developers A. L. Burbank and E. V. Baker gained control
of 100 former rancho acres called the Sunrise Tract. First renamed La Park, this land just south of Los Angeles was later
called Huntington Park, after Burbank and Baker granted tycoon Henry Huntington a right-of-way to put his railway line along
Randolph Street in 1902. Incorporated in 1906, the city of Huntington Park became a significant freight station for cargo
coming to and going from Los Angeles. A working-class suburb throughout its first century, the nicknamed “City of Perfect
Balance” saw a population shift beginning in the 1970s. Latinos have assimilated into the community’s fabric,
revitalizing the busy central business district of Pacific Boulevard. Huntington Park is a central hub of the Latino community
in Los Angeles County.”
One reader of Huntington
Park said, “My grandpa (79) and my dad (54) LOVED this book and all the pictures. They can remember so
much of Huntington Park already, but seeing the look on their faces and they looked through the photos in this book, and the
memories and history, it was great. It was like they were home again. I love these books on all the different regions. I have
found so much useful information and history on all our surrounding areas from these books. Well done. What a great idea to
have books on all different cities, towns, neighborhoods - it seems they don't leave anyone out. Thanks for making my grandpa
and my dad two very happy boys.”
One reader of Huntington Park said, “I lived in
Huntington Park from 1953-1968 and went to Middleton Street School, Gage Junior High, and Huntington Park High School and
then I moved away and only returned once about 7 years later. I have a lot of memories of Huntington Park so was interested
to read this book and I learned a lot about the city that I hadn't known. I still have all my HPHS year books from those years.
We lived on Roseberry Avenue which was a few blocks from the Owl Market on the corner of Santa Fe and Florence Avenue - that's
gone now as are a lot of the places that were familiar. The place is totally different now, about 99% Hispanic; I've heard
even the city officials speak nothing but Spanish at their meetings. Pacific Blvd. was the place to be - Sav-Ons sold ice
cream cones for 5 cents each. It was a mostly Caucasian area but I went to school with a good number of Mexican and Black
kids as well. The book brought it all back. My Dad worked for General Motors in South Gate - that's gone now too. As is my
Dad. So many memories. Great book written by a person who really seems to like the town. When I visited in 1976, it had really
gone downhill, trash was everywhere on Pacific Avenue. It really hurt to see that. I never returned. The book makes it sounds
like it has made a come-back and is a nice place again.
If you have any interest in Huntington
Park, this is definitely the book for you. And if you are living there now, please take good care of it. Many wonderful people
have walked down Pacific Avenue before you.”
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About the Huntington Park Police Department The City of Huntington Park was founded in 1906 and from it's inception,
has had it's own Municipal Police Department. Originally a one man Department with a City Marshal, the department grew as
did the City. Following World War One, the size of the Department increased to a Marshal and four Deputies. The new Deputies
wore their Army uniforms as Police uniforms.
The Policemen remained Deputies until 1932. The title
"Deputy" was changed to "Policeman" in 1933. Following the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, where many buildings
in Huntington Park were damaged, the Huntington Park Police Department was built on the Southeast corner of Gage and Pacific.
During this period, the majority of the police officers on the Department were motorcycle traffic officers. Their uniforms
were tan while the regular Patrol Officers began wearing blue. When a motorcycle officer was hired on, he was issued a badge
and a hat badge. He provided his weapon, uniform and motorcycle.
Police cars didn't have police radios so several "Police
Call Boxes were positioned around the City. Whenever the station received a call for assistance, the Police Operator would
activated a red light which was atop several tall towers throughout the City. The Policeman, on patrol, would need to routinely
look for the tower light and when seeing the light, he would call the station from one of the many call boxes. This system
was discontinued in the mid-1940's when the Department was equipped with car radios and a main station radio however, the
call boxes remained until the mid 1970's.
During World War Two, many of our Policemen volunteered
for Military service. The Department supplemented the patrol force and the Civil Defense Force with Home Volunteers. These
Volunteers wore a "Reserve Police" armband over their civilian clothing while serving their assignments. In 1943,
the Huntington Park Police began wearing Police Patches on their uniform shirts. The Patrol Officer's patch depicted "Electrical
Bolts" representing the newly equipped police cars with radios. The Motorcycle Officer's patch depicted the 'winged Wheel"
of the Motor Officer Following World War Two, the Department retained many of the war time volunteers and trained them as
Reserve Officers.
The Reserve Officers were issued their own style of
badge, however, they wore the same patch as the regular officers. The new Civic Center was built in 1950 and while the Police
Facility was being completed for the following year, the temporary Police Department was installed in the basement of the
City Hall. The jail cells are still in the basement of City Hall today.
Source: huntingtonparkpd.org
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