The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-09-12
"Who Planted the Trees p

2
conspicuous of our trees is the elm.
It is very easy to determine that they
were planted many years ago and the
younger generation wonder about
their origin Doubtless passing
tourists too. have also admired the
i slender elms that shade their trip
through town and have thought of
the pioneers who must have nurtured
Ire saplngs long before their auto
mobile was ever dreamed of. The
Oldest citizens cannot remember when
our first elms were planted for it was
Il about the time that the Bay State
decided that Maine need no longer be
a part of Massachusetts.
The trees on the east side of the is
land Mere among the first to be plant
ed and Benjamin HartWell in 1920 was
responsible for their existence. He
was Skowhegans most up-to-date car
penter and at the close Of his days
work. he took great pride in bringing
home an elm aud setting it out on
his lot which included the present
sites of the fire department building
and Methodist Church property His
shop was where the parsonage now
stands On the south side Of the is
land, Ensihius and stephen Weston
set ont elms in about 1880 The pines
near the foot bridge and the elms on
the river bank are Of natural growth.
OF course Elm street is the center
Of these big trees and 50 pleasant
was this part al the town made by
our forefathers that it has offered
most satisfactory stroll to lovers Of
nature The frees at the Parlin
house. now occupied by W. H. Cum
ming4 and family we're planted be-
fore 1S2S by Samuel Weston and two
large elms across the street at the
Arnold home were SET out by Major
Asa Wyndn at about the same time.
\. II Gilman planted some naples at
the Harrison Baker and Colonel
Blunt homes about so years ago and
either Moses Jewett or Daniel Steward
previous owner. started the trees
on Major Fogler's property.
This was in the days of the ferry
which used to cross from Stewards
Landing near the Davis Miller home
which Is the oldest house on the north
side Of the river. Thomas Ross and
family lived there as early as 1910.
Squire Samuel Philbrick set out
the trees on the William Philbrck
place about 1880 and Nathaniel Deer
ing. a lawyer, planted trees on the
Mcclellan place. Edward Pierson
probably planted the trees on the
stephen Coburn place though some in
that vicinity are native, The Hill
home. to the west has some elms and
we're winter and there is giant elm
on the Neil homestead that was plant
ed long before our oldest people can
remember.
Gustavus Weston with some school
boys and the teacher Of the Academy
decorated Bloomfield green and after
ward Harlow Bigelow replaced trees
that had died and planted others.
Lawyers Lane and the Butler proper
ty are shaded by trees set out by Judah
Mcclellan DR. Sylvanus Bacon and
Green Hill. father OF Green Hill Jr,
planted the trees on the Shepherd
place and those at the church lot on
High street were placed there by the
church society about 1910. John
Written planted the trees on the DR.
Wadsworth and Sawyer lots and also
those on the old tannery lot in about
1870. Asa Dyer in about 1925 set out
the trees on the W II Wildes place
Levi Wyman owned land then from
Elm street to opposite Leavitt street
and back to Written Brook. One
day in 1928. he brought home tree
with the top braken off and planted it
in front of what is now the home of
f B. Carter John w. Weston was
certainly mistaken when he told him
that it would not live for 1t Is one of
the largest trees and to make room
for the sidewalk. it had to be cut to
a great extent
About SIS years ago. there were two
small elms growing real near togeth-
er at Rev. Charles Miller's house at
the foot Of Neil Hill and realizing
that they could not flourish in the po-
sition that they were in, his son Davis
then a small boy. helped him trans
plant one OF them but 1t did not live.
The other OF the twins on the north
side of the garden Is "big boy now
and has probably gotten its growth.
The willows between the Miller home
and the river, have grown from small
slips put in the ground over nall
century ago, that the bank might be
protected from erosion.
OF course the above list of old tim
ers does not include all Of the big
trees in town for doubtless you can
think Of one not mentioned. How
ever that may be. those men above
named had a whole lot to do in max
ing Skowhegan one of the prettiest
towns in Maine.
The above information was obtain
ed largely from L. W Weston and his
sister Mrs Mary Varney. These two
estimable people were together at a
family gathering on Thanksgiving Day
about 10 years since. Some of the
elms mentioned in this article were
not far from the windows of the house
where the gathering was held. Some
thing brought them into the CONVERSE
ton and one of the company took
pains to note in writing what was
said. Mr.. Weston and Mrs. Varney
have since died and it is probable that
this information as to our shade trees
thus recorded would have been lost, !
but for the incident here related. !
Speaking of Nat Deering, above re-
ferred to, recalls an Interesting Int !