h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I briefly lived in Edmonton way back in the late 1950s. I was taking air-ground radio and meteorological training at the Municipal Airport prior to being sent north. I think the International Airport was under construction around that time. I can still remember the address of the house where I boarded - 10930 108th Street. Addresses that were all number were strange to someone from back east. I could walk from there to the Airport, and I remember passing the Oilmen's Club along the way. I believe it burned down a few years later, and the only things left were the huge wooden beams that ran the length of the building. I also remember there was a new scupture of a flight of wild geese in front of the city hall. It was very modern looking and made out of metal tubing. One of the local radio stations ran a contest to name it. The winning entry was "The Spaghetti Tree", and they even had a song about it -- "The Spaghetti Tree, the Spaghetti Tree, what a beautiful site to see."
I now live near Austin, which is the capital of Texas, and has about the same population as Edmonton.
Great entry!

The City Hall was replaced a few years ago (despite all the architectural awards) and the spaghetti tree isn't there anymore. I remember it well. I'm not sure where it went but I'll look into it.

thanks for the reminder

Well, I looked into it and found a surprise! The spaghetti tree is tucked into the West Courtyard of the new city hall. http://www.gov.edmonton.ab.ca/corp_services/communications/meet_city_hall.pdf

I feel kind of stupid that I've never noticed it there. I may just have to go downtown this afternoon and have a look.

It's great that they saved it. People are finally catching on that we all benefit by saving our heritage. I remember years ago when they built the modern looking city hall in Toronto, they were going to tear down the old gothic, red sandstone building across the street. A group came forward and wanted to save it. One of the councillors, a former mayor said, "Why bother, it's not that old." Well, dummy, we're never going to have any old buildings if we keep tearing them down. But it's still there, sitting right in the middle of Bay Street. At least, it was the last time I was there. It's probably old enough to be protected now.

Well, I went passed city hall tonight and sure enough there was the spaghetti tree! I'm kind of amazed I hadn't noticed it before.