Sunday, July 30, 2006

More Tree Talk!

If it wasn't enough that this week launched the Million Trees for LA website and the City's Urban Forestry Division's new webpage, the online community is abuzz over the lack of recognition of the Aliso tree for which the street was named. The Arts District Loft Nerd posted all about it - and quite well.

Now, if all the rumblings about getting the location designated historic need follow-up, I'll be happy to help. Since there is nothing but the location left and therefore the City's cultural-historic designation cannot be granted, there are a few options:

1. Call it a "Memorial Square" at the nearest intersection to the location of great sycamore.

2. Have the Los Angeles City Historical Society put up a marker at its location.

3. With it's connection to the Philadelphia Brew House & The Maier Brewing Company, contact a group like E CLAMPUS VITUS and see if they'll put up a historic marker. (Rumor has it that they sometimes drink.)

4. Have the City erect a pole with a sign indicating the site and the significance of the tree on a DOT regulation sign. It can be done as a custom sign with text for people to read. The Pole could be the height of the tree at it's greatest height, as well, to show the significance.

5. To build on #4, an artist may be commissioned to create a representation or interpretation of the tree, and a plaque or sign could be placed to indicate the significance of the artwork in memorializing the tree.

Those are my first few thoughts... I'm sure there are others out there.


Image above via viewfromaloft via A Visit to Old Los Angeles/Brent C. Dickerson

2 comments:

Sahra Bogado said...

Wow. Thanks for that information and help. I went and ate lunch at the $2.4 million Denny's across the freeway from the site of the Aliso yesterday. Something should be done to signify that spot.

Maybe an official designation is too much to ask (seeing as how the thing we're talking about has been gone for over 100 years).

Thanks again LA City Nerd and viewfromaloft.

Anonymous said...

100 years is not too late to put something up. This way is won't be "rediscovered" every decade.