Source: The Signal
Date: 02/21/2026 8:45am

Article Summary:
**The Time Ranger: Glass Volcanoes, Prohibitionist Politics and Colorful Characters in Santa Clarita Valley History**
In his latest “Time Ranger” column, John Boston recounts colorful snapshots of Santa Clarita Valley history from 1850 to 1966, including failed efforts to form a new Canyon County, odd small-town newspaper notices, and the exploits of eccentric Prohibitionist politician Henry Clay Needham. The piece also highlights memorable local episodes such as a dramatic 1946 courthouse escape involving a movie star’s car, atomic bomb threats in the 1950s, industrial “glass volcanoes” at Thatcher Glass, and a sharp spike in traffic tickets under an unpopular CHP captain.

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