It was all started by Dad in California almost 70 years ago . . .
DREAMS COME TRUE - Lt. Hamilton "Ham" Armstrong, head of the police bureau of identification, is shown working at a power saw in his new cabinet making shop at 112 S. Palm Ave. as a dream of the last 12 years materializes for him. He resigned his police job to open his own business.
Alhambra Post-Advocate - Nov. 5, 1948
A dream of the last 12 years materialized this week for Lt. Hamilton Armstrong, head of the police department's bureau of identification, has given up the life of a policeman for that of a cabinet maker.
Ever since he joined Alhambra's police department as a patrolman in 1936, Armstrong has dreamed of someday opening a cabinet shop of his own. In fact, when he came here from Denver in 1933, it was with the idea of opening such a business.
But times weren't easy and there were mouths to feed. Armstrong took a job as a policeman. Then came years when the idea had to be pushed into the background as he competed with other officers for the few promotions available.
He became a sergeant in 1943 and received the gold bars of a lieutenant Jan. 1, 1945. He was placed in charge of the bureau of identification, one of the top spots in the police department, but still he was unhappy. In the back of his mind was that unfulfilled dream. It gave him no rest.
Armstrong years ago began to buy and work with tools in his garage at home. He made toys one Christmas and recently has been making picture frames and gun chests. Then suddenly his opportunity came. He and his brother-in-law, John H. Steffes, got a chance to lease the former Brockus Furniture and Cabinet Shop at 112 S. Palm Ave. He decided to take the chance.
The little factory, located in a 35 x 55 foot building in the industrial district, is equipped with many power tools. They aren't new, Armstrong said, but they're serviceable.
At age 44, such ripping up stakes to enter a new venture took considerable thinking. But, as Armstrong said yesterday, "I'll never really be happy until I at least give it a try."
Alhambra Post-Advocate - Nov. 5, 1948
. . . and while Dad was preparing for his new venture, I was doing my part, too.
To be continued. . .