Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier
Los Altos area residents saddened over the sawed off stump many have known as "Rudolph" are, from left, Kelsey Drinker, Juliana Mandle, Teri Drinker, Shana and Kay Barchas.
Town Crier Staff Writer
Many letters, calls protest the loss
Shock continues to ripple through Los Altos Hills as residents happen upon the chopped-down tree stump that used to be Rudolph.
"Poor Rudolph," said Los Altos Hills resident Kay Barchas. "He's been decapitated."
Originally the stump, beside Fremont Road on the way to the Town Hall, looked like a deer, Barchas said.
People began dressing up the stump, that began life 40 years ago as an apricot tree. About 20 years ago the tree lost most of its upper branches and someone noticed the remaining twigs and crooked stump "bore a striking resemblance to a reindeer," wrote Los Altos Hills residents Jim and Nina Steiner.
One year at Christmastime someone put antlers and a red hat on the stump, and it became Rudolph.
"Just this spring he has been dressed for El Nino in a rain poncho, for Easter, Kentucky Derby Day, Mother's Day, graduation day, Memorial Day and Father's Day, his last," the Steiners wrote.
Ever since, "He brought a smile to the face of those of us who drive by," said Los Altos Hills resident Becky Morgan.
Nobody is smiling now.
"My daughter will be heartbroken when we go by again," and she sees the broken stump, said Los Altos Hills resident Jeannette Foley. C.J., her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, always looked to see what Rudolph might have been wearing.
In September for back-to-school, he would be with a lunch box, Barchas said. At Thanksgiving, a pilgrim outfit. And during the holidays, he sported antlers.
"He was so cute," said 18-year-old Shana Barchas. "It was one of the nicest things. It was informal, not a committee who got together."
People are wondering who killed Rudolph.
"It's a shame," Kay Barchas said. She called it a case of "nasty vandalism."
That seems to be what has ignited such indignation among folks, the notion of mean-spirited destruction.
Many have expressed a willingness to donate funds and time to help rebuild Rudolph. But no one seems to know who has been taking care of him.
"Somebody, obviously," Foley said.
For now, people have been leaving flowers and trinkets at the site.
"At last count," the Steiners wrote, "seven bouquets and sympathy cards" were at the stump.
Foley said she planned, with her daughter, to "make a craft and put it out in his memory."