USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > New London's participation in Connecticut's tercentenary, 1935 > Part 2
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"A number of tiny trees were his reward-but, when they were still very small, the place was sold and the family moved into the City of Washington. But the young lawyer, still feeling the reverence that had stirred in him during those days in Cambridge, did not leave those tiny 'children' of that great old elm to be neglected by unappreciative suc- cessors. So the 13 sturdiest were planted at Mt. Vernon ; one was planted, with great pomp and ceremony, near the old State House in Annapolis, Maryland-outside the window of the senate chamber where, before congress assembled there, and eight years after the day on the Cambridge Commons, General Washington had resigned his commission, and, in his own words, 'was once more translated to a private citizen.' Still another little tree was taken to the private garden of an uncle of the writer-a brother-in-law of the young lawyer who, through all the years, and until his death, less than two years ago, preferred to remain entirely anonymous in connection with his share in this contribution to our nation-quietly glorying, though, in the proud share his niece has had, during these past nine years, in extending that gift to greater distances, in this later day and generation of greater newspaper publicity, through all of which she has been pledged not to reveal his name in accordance with his desire and command, 'as I am not young enough, now, to cope with resulting publicity, and prefer my pleasure through you,' he often said. But some day, somehow, on the government records, his name shall quietly appear, so that future generations shall know to whom they are primarily indebted for this great heritage-in all true justice to him.
"As the years went by, up in Cambridge, the old elm, like its lawyer friend and like all other 'old war veterans,' began to 'show time,' and to become bowed and shrunken with age -- its branches growing shorter and fewer, and its once crowning glory of twigs and leaves getting thinner and thinner, in spite of the efforts of scientists who were grad- ually learning more and more of the proper care and doctoring of trees. Finally, though, on an autumn day in 1923, with only three short stumps
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left, and a handful of twigs and leaves, the old one-time giant quietly gave up its long struggle for existence, and fell over against its pro- tecting fence. The 'city fathers' of Cambridge then cut cross-sections of its three branches and trunk, and sent one to each state capitol and to all our other possessions. On each piece was a tiny brass plate, with the outline of the old tree taken from its last photograph, and the words of Longfellow's inscription. Also, the little parking space that, for years, had divided the traffic in the center of the wide street was cleared away and replaced, on the exact spot where the old elm had stood, with a deep, especially hard concrete circle, in which was imbedded four-inch deep brass letters with the inscription-so that this unusual marker will withstand, for many, many years, the hurrying weight of constantly increasing traffic.
"In the meantime, the Annapolis 'child' had grown rapidly and beautifully-but only two of those at Mt. Vernon had survived the transplanting, various insects and blights, and the hurricane storms that sweep up and down that river. Also, the once sturdy 'child' in the Maryland garden had, tragically, lost its top, due to a combination of storms and blight, also, and had to be cut down to the ground, leaving only a low stump. But, eventually, around that stump, there began to appear a little thicket of tiny elms that, on investigation, were found to be springing up at right angles from the widespread roots of the original parent tree-roots that were still healthy and full of life. This old place also finally had to be sold, and, being the tree specialist of the family, my cousins brought me a bundle of 20 of these tiny shoots, varying in height from 24 inches to even a tiny one-inch sprout that was just starting upwards from the tip end of one of the long roots -- roots that sometimes had three, four and even five tiny trees growing up along its length-getting all their strength from that long parent root, and with no fiber roots of their own. They were all carefully cut apart and planted and, with care and nursing and plenty of water, they became eventually sturdy, independent little trees in their own right. "Gradually, then, through the next six years, I gave all of the 20 to as many historic or patriotic places (the last four going out 20 feet tall, and with five-foot balls of earth!) in the George Washington Bicentennial year. The one at Memorial Continental Hall, the National D. A. R. Headquarters in Washington, D. C., was the first in this series of gifts (and now the largest of all-up beyond the second story win- dows). The others went to the National S. A. R. Headquarters (also in Washington) ; to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Fort McHenry, Balti- more, Maryland; the National Cathedral in Washington; the Washing- ton Memorial Boulevard Entrance to Mt. Vernon; Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland (that tiny, one-inch sprout, now over 15 feet
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tall!) ; the tomb of Mary, the mother of Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia; and still others, including Yorktown and Wakefield, and one to Sulgrave Manor, England, the home of Washington's ancestors.
"This little tree (nine feet tall when it went across the ocean in the hold of the S. S. Mauretania), went through a minute examination by agricultural experts at the Bureau of Examinations, in Washington, and, given a clean bill of health and a special letter from the head of the Bureau, was admitted to England by special act of the British govern- ment (they have an embargo against elms) because they so wanted this historic tree of goodwill. And now, growing rapidly, at Sulgrave, is one of their prize exhibits, with its bronze marker at its base, and standing by it, every day, an American flag that went over with it as the gift of the American Tree Association, in whose hall of fame all these little trees are registered.
"When the entire country was preparing for the Washington Bicen- tennial Celebration of 1932, the inspiration came to try to get more of these little root-shoots if they were still available and if the present owner of the old home would let us buy some from him. This was accomplished, and several bundles of them were brought to our home, where their queerly-shaped roots were untangled and cut apart (roots that were and still are very parts of the parent tree), and our yard was turned into a regular 'Washington Elm Nursery' where, in spite of that year of terrible drought when many of them died, most of the little tree- lets grew in height and size, developing their own necessary fiber roots, and becoming, therefore, sturdy, independent little trees in their own right-a period of anxious watching and watering and covering and uncovering, et cetera.
"Finally the 'Bicentennial Year' arrived, and then, with the Mary- land D. A. R. bearing the expense of the shipping, of the accompanying letters with their 'story,' the photographs, et cetera, 48 of this group of little trees were offered to and sent to the 48 states of the union, as the joint Bicentennial gift and work of the Maryland State Society and their state chairman of conservation, who, as part of her contribution of the patriotic activity of that great society, state and national, had undertaken this work of love, by means of which she has made it possible for present and future citizens in many parts of the country to have the proud privi- lege of owning one of these precious trees. And she thrills to the realization that, while in the various state capitols there is a beloved piece of the sacred 'Old Elm,' there is also, outside in the grounds surrounding each building, a young, growing 'grandchild' of that same old 'Revolutionary Veteran'!
"There are three famous Revolutionary societies that are popularly known and called by their initials: the 'D. A. R.s,' 'S. A. R.s,' and the
1. Washington Elm, Cambridge, from an old woodcut of 1870. 2. A Sister Grandscion at the entrance to Mount Vernon, planted April 19, 1932. 3. A Sister Grandscion located at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland, birthplace of The Star Spangled Banner, now a national shrine. 4. A Sister Grandscion, planted in 1928 in front of the Headquarters of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Washington, D. C.
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'C. A. R.s' -- or the 'Daughters,' 'Sons,' and 'Children' 'of the American Revolution.' And now, through the distribution of these young trees, there is, figuratively speaking, a fourth 'Society' forming-one that, through future years, could be called the 'Trees of the American Revo- lution,' or the 'T. A. R.s' -- with the beloved old Cambridge Elm (living until just 12 years ago), as the 'Founding Member,' and these, its chil- dren and grandchildren, as the 'Charter Members'! There are, of course, many other famous trees that, in their own way, contributed to or partici- pated in the American Revolution-and they, in time, could all be enrolled on the roster of this new 'organization'!
"However, at present, all of these young trees, 'Washington Elm Grandchildren,' as they go out, are listed in a section of their own 'Hall of Fame' of the American Tree Association-and each is accompanied by its own certificate of registration, for the permanent files and records of the organization to which it goes.
"As you see, many and varied have been the experiences connected with the raising of these little trees in our home yard and the sending them out into the world! Would that time permitted my telling you still more anecdotes about them, now, in further detail, for some were heart-warmingły happy, others were tragic and very worrying, and still others were so laughably funny that we all agreed, unanimously, with our oldest daughter, who, when 12 years old, once took them as the subject for a school essay that won her a mark of 'E,' and whose closing sentence read: 'So, I have come to the conclusion that there is as much tragedy and as much humor in raising a family of tree-babies as there is in raising a family of human babies'! But, like our own 'human babies,'
yours as well as ours-they have all combined to bring into our lives a richness and pleasure all its own-a reward worth having-even if they have brought to their temporary 'guardian' the title, in Maryland, of 'the lady who is giving away her grandchildren'!
"And now, Mr. Chairman, several patriotic organizations and in- dividuals have, from time to time, during these past four years, besought the privilege of securing one of these young trees from this latest group, now almost gone, so that they could have, in their own right, the ex- perience of a personal presentation to still other patriotic places in which they were especially interested, of such an historic and unusual gift.
"So, now, it is with pride and pleasure, that, temporarily, I put this young, but tall, and rapidly-growing tree, with its accompanying certificate, in the gracious hands of Mrs. Ernest E. Rogers and her sister, Miss Elizabeth Gorton, for their joint presentation of both tree and certificate to the final and permanent owner-the New London County Historical Society, adding my own hope and prayer that this, my one- time 'grandchild,' will continue to grow and thrive in its new home,
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on ground where so much of importance to our nation took place in those eight years following that historic day at Cambridge, not so far away.
"And, in closing, may I extend my personal greeting and that of the State of Maryland to all those gathered here for this joyful Ter- centenary Celebration, centered around this young tree from Maryland. May its future growth and its presence in your State be, always, a symbol of the bond of friendship between these two sister states who were among that proud group of 'the Thirteen Original States'! Just last year we, too, celebrated our tercentennial, and so we know and understand with what full and thankful hearts you have prepared for and approached this great event. Congratulations upon its fruition !"
PRIZE ESSAY
ANNE HIGBEE
Anne Higbee, 13 years old. read a prize essay on the Washington Elm. The essay chosen was the best of those entered in competition among members of the eighth grade of the Jennings School. Miss Higbee is the daughter of Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. Frank D. Higher. Her father is attached to Base 4 at Fort Trumbull. Her essay follows:
For many years on the Common at Cambridge stood a large elm tree of the kind common to New England. It was the remains of the primeval forest that had once covered that part of the country. In its youth this tree was about 100 feet high and its branches covered a diameter of 90 feet. This tree played a part in the history of our country as few other things have.
It was the hot, sultry day of July 3, 1775, and crowds were flocking to the Common, for the Continental Congress had declared that to win the War of Independence, there must be one, undivided army, serving under one man. To this high post as commander-in-chief, they had appointed George Washington, a Virginian, who had distinguished him- self in the French wars and who was to take command that day.
At 9 a. m. three men rode up and were greeted by cheers. They were General Ward of Massachusetts, Charles Lee of Virginia, and George Washington. Down the lines they rode and stopped under the elm. The new commander-in-chief turned to General Ward. He laid his hand on his sword, drew it from its scabbard and slowly lifted it above his head. The blade glittered in the sunlight. A great shout went up. The ceremony was ended.
There is a legend that Washington had a platform built in the elm's branches, from which he watched the British in Boston. Whether
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this is true or not, I cannot say, but it is certain that he crossed the Common every day, always passing under the elm.
After that the elm tree saw troubled times, for George Washington was having a hard time. There wasn't enough of anything.
On New Year's all the regiments were ordered out for review and to receive their new flag, a flag which was to fly over all the colonies and show they were one nation. A flag with 13 red and white stripes and two crosses in the corner. Regiment by regiment they paraded, but with their new flag instead of the Rattlesnake flag or the Pine Tree flag or the others which they had brought from home and which showed where they came from.
Then came important days, with the elm looking on. After a time the elm became associated in people's minds with Washington, and so got its name. Under its branches the Declaration of Independence was read, and in 1781 bonfires were lit to celebrate Cornwallis's surrender. When Washington, as president, made his tour of New England, he stopped under the old elm on the Common.
Again in 1812 the elm saw flags and uniforms, heard fife and drum. It was here that the body of Harvard students, armed by the Governor of Massachusetts, drilled. Many people came to see them under the elm. In 1824 the tree was the center of a splendid celebration in honor of the brave French soldier, Lafayette, who was visiting our country as the , guest of the nation.
The election of 1860 came, and under the elm there were many hot discussions for and against slavery-Abraham Lincoln was elected, Fort Sumter was fired on, a call for volunteers, the Civil War began.
Again soldiers were drilling beneath those historic branches. The senior class of Harvard left almost in a body, some for the Union, some for the Confederacy. Many Cambridge men went too, to risk their lives for liberty and the Union, just as their forefathers had done.
The elm stood on the Common while the people anxiously awaited news from Bull Run, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and finally the great news from Appomattox. Then the news of Lincoln's assassination.
In 1875 there was a grand celebration under the elm. A hundred years had passed since the first commander-in-chief had first come to Cambridge. At the foot of the elm a granite tablet had been erected with an inscription written by Longfellow:
"Under this tree Washington first took Command of the American Army, July 3, 1775."
There was a wonderful procession with the Vice-President of the United States. The elm was decorated by flags until it looked much younger than its 300 years. Near it was a life-sized painting of Wash- ington on horseback, and an arch with bunting with these words:
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"The Birthplace of the American Army."
The pillars on either side were marked 1775 and 1875. A shoot was taken from the elm and planted not far away. Now it is a strong young tree that promises to live a long time.
Again in 1917 and 1918 the elm looked out on tents and soldiers. A radio school was established there. Five thousand men, this time in khaki, drilled, and studied, and worked, where so many soldiers had done the same things in other wars.
Through the years the tree became more and more the symbol of liberty, in truth the spirit of '76.
In 1872 people noted signs of decay. A large branch, 17 inches in diameter, fell to the ground, and was made into a pulpit for a neigh- boring chapel. Only the best and hardest work by tree surgeons kept it alive. Leopard moths and elm leaf beetles were its enemies. Storms broke off its top branches. Dead limbs appeared and had to be cut off. Each year showed more signs of decay. The branches that still had leaves were propped up with braces, and bound with iron rods. Limbs were cut and lopped until it was just a skeleton of the majestic elm that had been there so long. It had lost all its beauty and grace, but people felt it was beautiful in spirit, and it stood for the growth of one nation.
No one suggested cutting it down. When the street car line wanted more tracks and proposed to chop it down, a storm of protest went up and it was saved.
But all the love and care in the world couldn't lengthen its life. In 1923 not one branch showed signs of life. The long limbs were dangerous, they had to be taken off. In October a band of workmen were. sawing off a dead branch and tugged at the ropes, when suddenly the trunk cracked and fell. The life of the most loved tree in America was ended.
On the same site as the old tree had stood, on Washington's birth- day, 1924, they planted a slip of the Washington elm which had been taken a few years before. In future, pilgrims to the "Birthplace of the American Army," will find a descendant of the elm growing in the place of its ancestor.
ADDRESS
AUSTIN F. HAWES, State Forester
There is no more fitting way of inaugurating these tercentenary exercises than by the planting of this grandscion of the Washington Elm. The early prosperity of the New England Colonies was intimately
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dependent upon its forest wealth. Sawmilling was one of our first industries and shipbuilding dates back to 1631. Among our earliest products of export were rough planks, clapboards, shingles, and pipe staves, which went to the West Indies, Spain, Portugal, and the Madeiras, to make casks for rum and other liquors. Our beautiful colonial houses and churches and our highly prized early American furniture and wooden implements are monuments to the once vast forests of this region.
Curiously enough the forests themselves had an important influence upon the growing sentiment of unrest, which continued to fester until it broke out in the Revolution. The early colonists brought with them from England some ideas of conservation and incorporated these in statutes for the preservation of the forests, statutes which were soon forgotten as younger generations grew up in the more remote forest sections. During the latter part of the 17th century when England was engaged in interminable wars with Holland and France she became more and more dependent upon her American colonies for ship timber and especially masts, for her former supplies from the Baltic were threat- ened. Samuel Pepys, competent secretary of the British navy, speaks several times in his famous diary of their dependence upon New England masts. It may well be that our masts preserved New England from becoming a French colony.
In England there was a very ancient principle, running back into feudal times -- the principle that forest on crown land is crown forest, not to be exploited for private gain. This principle had never been stressed in New England until 1691 when a clause was inserted in the new charter granted by William and Mary to the province of Massa- chusetts Bay, which included the greater part of New England. This clause reserved to the crown for the use of the royal navy all trees more than 2.4 inches in diameter on all land not heretofore granted to a private person. Severe penalties were prescribed for removal of these trees and it was provided that they should be marked with the crown symbol -... a broad arrow.
This principle was extended to all of New England and later to Nova Scotia, New York, and New Jersey, and a "Surveyor-General of the Woods" was appointed to enforce it. Thirty years ago I heard Dr. Everett Hale in Washington say that when he was a young surveyor in New Hampshire he had seen old trees which showed the king's arrow. If such a regulation had been imposed at the time of the first settlement it might have been accepted by the colonists, but two generations of independent settlers had been born in New England by 1691 and they rebelled against such domination. It is quite likely that the antagonism aroused among the scattered settlers by this regulation had as much to do with their hostility to the crown as the unfair taxation and regulation
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of trade had to do with antagonizing the towns folk. The regulation was never successfully enforced for the settlers persisted in cutting trees in defiance of the order.
It is difficult to say when the interest in tree planting first started in this country. The carly settlers in clearing the forest did spare an occasional fine tree, either as a landmark or a boundary marker. In many cases such trees determined the location of the early roads. The Charter Oak in Hartford was such a tree, having been revered by the Indians who had planted their corn in the spring when its leaves were the size of a mouse's ears. These old landmarks are all gone.
The development of gentlemen's estates and the planting of trees for purely ornamental purposes attained great proportions in England in the carly part of the 18th century, during Queen Anne's reign and thereafter. It came as a result of growing wealth from trade with the East and West Indies, and was undoubtedly influenced by a similar movement on the continent such as the Versailles and Fontainbleau development under Louis XIV.
Sir John Evelyn in the reign of Charles II had written the first English book on tree planting and forestry. This book, which went through several editions, had a tremendous influence on tree planting not only in England, but in our colonies. It is safe to say that the fine estates such as those of Washington and Jefferson in Virginia, and of Adams in Massachusetts, owed a great deal to this book. In fact, we know that John Quincy Adams, who was an ardent tree planter, relied upon this book for his information, although it was then over a hundred years old.
The Washington Elm in Cambridge, as I remember it as a boy, was not an especially large tree, not nearly as large as the present Wethersfield Elm. As elm grows rather rapidly it could not have been more than medium sized when Washington took command of the army. It is, therefore, unlikely that this was a remnant of the forest. It was probably planted in the early part of the 18th century as were hundreds of other elms throughout our larger towns.
A friend returning home from a tour around the world told me that nowhere had he seen a tree as stately and beautiful as our American elm. Now this tree which has for three centuries been part of our New England heritage is threatened with extinction by a foreign disease similar to that which destoyed the chestnut 20 years ago. Apparently this is just one more disastrous result of the World War. No one would have suspected that Chinese laborers brought to France during the war would have carried with them a disease likely to wipe out the elms of Europe and America. It is somewhat analogous to the Hessian fly of
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our wheat fields brought to this country by the British mercenaries of the Revolution.
No one knows whether or not the Dutch elm disease can be con- trolled and our elms saved. All we know is that the disease is carried by minute insects which live principally in dead elm wood. By destroying dead trees and branches the trees may be kept in a fairly resistant condition, which may save them. In view of the importance of the elm to our Connecticut countryside and villages, any measures of protection are worth while.
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