La Verne Heights Elementary School

La Verne Heights Elementary School. . , In 1984 a Red Oak tree in front of La Verne Heights Elementary School became diseased. Tree limbs began to fall off onto Baseline Road, creating hazards for drivers as well as students of the elementary school. Recognizing the potential danger, the City of La Verne called Caltrans to take the tree down. The tree was cut down and taken to the City's maintenance yard. A city employee recommended that a distinguished woodworker and artist by the name of Ruben Guajardo, use the fallen tree in a city project. After much discussion, it was decided that the tree would be fabricated into the front doors of the newly built city library. , Between the years of 1984 and 1987, Ruben Guajardo milled and cured the wood from the tree until it was ready to be fashioned into the doors. Once the doors were completed, they were installed at the La Verne Public Library, where they still stand today. The cross section of the Red Oak that stands before you is the leftover piece of Ruben Guajardo's project. Although the cross section may appear oxidized and weathered today, at the time he sanded and polished the wood he was able to count 190 annual rings. , Below is a brief timeline of major US and City of La Verne historical events that occurred during the tree's 190 year lifetime. , 1776 - Declaration of Independence , 1787 - U.S. Constitution signed , 1789 - George Washington inaugurated as first president , 1794 - Acorn germinated and red oak seedling was born , 1848 - 1855 - Gold Rush , 1850 - California becomes a State , 1861 - 1863 - Civil War - Abraham Lincoln is president , 1863 - Gettysburg Address , 1875 - La Verne Heights Elementary opens with 8 students , 1885 - La Verne Heights Elementary moved to this location , 1887 - Lordsburg's first post office established , 1903 - Wright Brothers first flight , 1903 - Second school building with two stories built at a cost of $12,000. , 1906 - Lordsburg Incorporated , 1914 - World War I begins , 1917 - Lordsburg renamed to La Verne , 1919 - Prohibition begins , 1920 - Women given voting rights , 1933 - Great Depression - Franklin Delano Roosevelt is President , 1934 - Present building built by WPA under "New Deal" , 1935 - Social Security Act , 1941 - Pearl Harbor is attacked and U.S. enters World War II , 1945 - Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki , 1945 - United Nations established , 1957 - Eisenhower Doctrine , 1963 - President John F. Kennedy assassinated , 1965 - US entered Vietnam War , 1969 - First man lands on Moon , 1984 - Oak tree cut down due to age and danger of falling branches , March 14, 1995 - Tree monument dedicated