LAKEPORT — The school flag waved at half-staff one February morning in 1926 as Lakeport mourned a beloved man who never had children of his own, but befriended many at the school he worked for.
Peter “Pete” McKenna would be later honored with a redwood tree and a plaque that now rests half-buried at the edge of a lot close to the Clear Lake shore near Ninth Street. At that lot, Lakeport Union School stood many decades ago.
Twigs and dirt now cover the plaque that lays less than 10 feet from the sidewalk, and is often unnoticed by pedestrians.
The hidden plaque stirred a mystery surrounding a name and a passage that held McKenna”s story buried under 90 years of history and dirt, until a strolling person”s curiosity brushed the first leaves off the plaque.
The day of McKenna”s memorial, “there were very few dry eyes in the long funeral cortege on Friday (Feb. 26, 1926) as it passed between the ranks of silent and attentive pupils of Lakeport Union School paying their last tribute of love to their friend,” a reporter wrote in the March 3, 1926 edition of the Lake County Bee.
“As the hearse passed, the pupils who had so often joyously ridden with him climbed and joined the mourners in the procession,” the article provided Jan Cook, a Lake County Librarian and member of the Lake County Genealogy Society, read.
McKenna was originally employed as a janitor when the school was built, but because of his hard work and reliability, he was given the full responsibility over the school buses. He tended to bus repairs, hired bus drivers and drove a bus.
His heavy involvement with school management matters made him Principal B.J. Davis” right-hand man, according to the article. During his time serving the school, he earned the affection of the community and school children, and after his death, his memorial was an event attended from many Lake County residents.
Many important community figures were present at the memorial of the man born in Cloverdale in 1880, to pay their respects.
When he was 16 years old, McKenna moved to Lakeport and made it his home, and married Maude A. Bucknell on May 8, 1926.
At 46 years old, McKenna lost a 10-day battle and died of pneumonia the morning of February 24 at his Lakeport home. His wife was by “Pete”s” side at the time of his death.
McKenna was survived by his wife, his father and seven siblings. The plaque was meant to keep his memory alive, but time buried his story as often occurs. His story resurfaced when a curious walker stumbled upon the plaque.
Isaac Brambila is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636 ext. 37 or at ibrambila@record-bee.com.
