LAHS campus willow tree after pruning in 2015. (Photo taken from campus cottonwood tree) looking toward the north overpass. Courtesy/Ruth H. Lier

By RUTH HELMICK LIER
LAHS 1952
Biology/Chemistry Homeroom D-2

The Los Alamos High School (LAHS) campus has lost a longtime devoted friend due to wind gusts early this evening (link).

This 70-year-old Weeping Willow tree was planted near the corner of the campus by the students of LAHS Homeroom D-2 in the Spring of 1952.

The new high school had little landscaping except for grass and sidewalks. Early Superintendent Robert Wagner’s administration provided each homeroom teacher one of various tree saplings to plant at designated spots on campus during the homeroom period at the beginning the school day on a sunny spring day. I was in LAHS Biology/Chemistry Homeroom D-2 and we received a willow tree sapling.

The tree has survived 70 years of insect infestation, multitudes of pruning and treatments and recently by a certified arborists (during Superintendent Gene  Schmidt’s administration), wind damage, droughts and cold winters of our 7,500 elevation. It has witnessed campus history, the widening of Diamond Drive, the construction of the two overpasses, various famous visitors, graduations, fire drills, hot air balloon demos  on the nearby lawn, concerts and students enjoying the lawn areas.

RIP old friend.

The 1952 students and teacher of homeroom D-2 will miss your stately graceful branches.

This is how the new Los Alamos High School campus (looking toward Civic Auditorium) looked when Ruth Helmick arrived in August 1951. ‘Only grass and sidewalks, landscaping was in the planning stage, near the area where the willow sapling would be planted in the spring of 1952 by my D-2 Homeroom students’ she said. Photo by Ruth Helmick (Lier) 1951