By Walt Scholey

The idea of a plaza in downtown Los Altos was part of a long-range study the city had made, which included grading and resurfacing both State and Main streets. The plan was dormant for lack of funding.

Around 1990 or 1991, I was elected to the board of directors of the Los Altos Rotary Club and assigned to community affairs. On my committee was Jane Reed, then Director of the Village Association. At a meeting of the committee, I asked if anyone had any ideas about what Rotary might do to make a real impact on the city.

Reed apprised me of a plan for a plaza at the intersection, and we decided to look at it. Fellow Rotarian and active supporter, Guy Farthing, volunteered $10,000 for a feasibility study, and we were off and running on the project.

To raise money for the project, we decided to sell personalized bricks, plaques and artifacts such as chairs, drinking fountains, clocks and other items. People got behind the project, and the American Legion donated the flags and holders, which are part of the Plaza.

Support from the business community was solid and Mrs. Walter Singer made a $50,000 donation early on to proceed with the Plaza.

A tree controversy became evident when a deodara tree was in an island where the Plaza was to be built. The tree had to go in order to proceed and much controversy occurred. A petition was signed to keep the tree, and that petition is in the archives at the History Museum.

The Main Street paving was completed and a curb was put in to define the Plaza. Marge Bruno was mayor at the time, and she said we should take the tree down and cross the Rubicon. So the tree came down, and a controversy became heated over a replacement tree.

The Plaza came together and the Rotary Club raised around $225,000. The first “Rotary Tree” died and we planted another, which has now been up for 5 years, and appears to be making it. I would like to see it a little straighter, but time will take care of that.

The best part of an activity like this is the wonderful people you work with and become part of. I have mentioned some, but I must give a special mention to Ginny Lear, We had more than 200 bricks and plaques all specially embossed, which Ginny handled and not a mistake was made.

Now regretfully, after nearly 40 years of living in this community, my wife Charlene and I are moving to live closer to our children and grandchildren. We will be relocating about 70 miles north of San Diego. We leave with no complaints and no regrets. It has been a great run.