Jim Burtner on Monday displays the table he made out of wood from an old piano found in the basement of the former Jefferson Elementary School. The table will be raffled off at His Kids Christian School's Spring BASH with proceeds going to the school.

JEFFERSON TWP — When Jim Burtner peeled the black veneer from an old piano at His Kids Christian School, he found a treasure: wormy chestnut.

Burtner found the old instrument in the basement of the school, the building that housed the former Jefferson Elementary of the South Butler School District. The piano was left behind when the district consolidated elementary schools and moved out in 2001.

Burtner, who attended the school when it was Jefferson Elementary and sent his children there too, knew this piece of the school's history would be important to a lot of people.

But, as a piano, it wasn't worth much.

"You can't give away an old piano," he said.

So he decided to craft a new use out of old wood. Chestnut became expensive and hard to find after a fungal blight killed most of the trees last century. The rustic look of the material was created by insect damage.

Burtner, who crafts something each year for His Kids school to raffle off as a benefit, decided to create a table from the wood. In the past, he has made stools and chairs.

"I've never made anything as big as this," he said.

Burtner actually made two tables from the wood, one he kept and one he donated to His Kids for the Spring BASH.

As a retired welder, he needed a little help and more space to make the more complex pieces. So he started working at the night classes at Butler County Vocational-Technical School. One night a week for six weeks, he worked to assemble, sand and finish the tables in class. Carpentry teacher Scott McKee was a big help, Burtner said."He doesn't do the work for you; he just helps you through obstacles," he said. He finished the table for the raffle earlier this month, and it is now on display at Summit Presbyterian Church on Caldwell Drive, the sponsor of His Kids school.Raffle tickets for the table, which are available now, cost $5.This is the fifth year for the school's Spring BASH, which means Building A Spiritual Heritage, said school board member and event chairwoman Holly Pflugh.The April 24 event, which raises money to pay the school's bills and to supplement the scholarship fund, will include bingo, donkey rides, a concession stand, Chinese auction and crafts for children, she said.Debora Dawson, school principal, said students will perform and there will be plenty for families to do."It's a real nice way for parents to get involved," Dawson said."It's a super outing for families, and it is a really nice benefit," Pflugh said.For information, call Pflugh at 724-285-1053.