Los Gatos holiday tree marks centennial year in town plaza

Cedar Deodora was a gift from History Club of Los Gatos.

This marks the 100th year that the holiday tree has stood in the town plaza on the corner of West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos. As is customary, the tree will be lit on the first Friday in December, and this year the ceremony will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.

The centennial ceremony will include recognition for the History Club of Los Gatos, which donated the tree all those years ago. History Club President Diana Crawford and many club members will be in attendance to commemorate the occasion.

The History Club was established in 1897, and in the years leading up to 1923, the club annually decorated a tree that had been cut and brought down from the mountains. Each year, the tree was placed in the Plaza (then called Lyndon Plaza in keeping with the Hotel Lyndon, which was demolished in 1963), and the club dedicated an annual budget of $15 to this project.

It is documented in the board meeting minutes of Jan. 3, 1923, that the ladies of the History Club discussed the planting of a permanent tree, and Mrs. Estelle Harwood McMurtry moved that a Christmas tree should be planted. McMurtry was duly named chair of the tree committee.

At the board meeting on March 14, 1923, the minutes note that a cedar Deodora had been successfully planted, and a plaque noting its donation by the History Club of Los Gatos still stands at its foot. At the time of planting, the club promised that the tree would grow in size with the population of Los Gatos, which in 1920 stood at 2,317.

At that time, Los Gatos was known as a bohemian arts colony, attracting painters, musicians, writers and actors. The tree has indeed grown alongside the evolving Los Gatos population, which, according to the 2020 census, has swelled to over 33,000 residents, many of whom have been attracted by Los Gatos’ role within Silicon Valley.

With this influx of new people has come an array of cultures and beliefs, and in more recent times, the tree and its annual lighting has been considered a symbol of the start of the holiday season as opposed to a traditional Christmas tree.

In the intervening years since 1923, the History Club has continued to flourish and thrive, attracting women from Los Gatos and beyond who wish to serve and support the local community through philanthropic work. In recent years the club has supported— both through voluntary work and financial donations—causes including Cancer CAREpoint, Good Karma Bikes, the Bill Wilson Center, SJSU Spartan Food Pantry and Pacific Clinics.

In addition to the positive impact the club has on the community, members enjoy a rich tapestry of social activities and long-term friendships. On Jan. 25, 2024, the History Club will be throwing open its doors for an open house from 7-9 p.m. Visitors can glean an understanding as to how the club has endured for 126 years. Interested parties and potential new members will be given a very warm welcome.

Lisa Harris is a board member of the History Club of Los Gatos. For more information, visit www.historyclublosgatos.org.