Prince George, B.C.- Some wood has come full circle at City Hall.

 

When the Veteran’s Plaza – Spirit Square was being redeveloped in the front of Prince George City Hall, it was discovered three of the elm trees which line the grounds, were dying.

 

Recreation Coordinator, Doug Hofstede says initially, it was hoped the wood could be made into special boards that could be used at City Hall, but the quality wasn’t there for that. “So rather than chip the wood, we contacted the Prince George Wood Turners Guild to see if they were interested” says Hofstede.

 

 

The Guild members then took pieces and have turned them into art.

 

This morning, some of those pieces were returned to City Hall, and will be given to visiting dignitaries.

 

Each piece is marked as being made from a City Hall Elm tree.

 

While the guild members were pleased to have the opportunity to work with the wood, there were some surprises “No one expected to find the number o screws in the blocks that we found” says one wood turner. “Those screws that were put in the tree in 1948 to hold Christmas lights, had been completely covered by new bark by 1962 and we didn’t rediscover them until we were doing a rough cut with a chain saw.”

 

Mayor Rogers says he’s please to see the wood find its way back to City Hall, albeit in a new form “it is wonderful to see the long lasting value in the nature and resources , this is fundamentally what we area all about.”