The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-05-14
WASHINGTON SPRING PARK
CEREMONY HELD TUESDAY
Representatives of "a Oakland
Organizations Plant Trees
NOtables Are Present
WASHINGTON TREE GIVEN.

Spring Park was officially begun
Tuesday afternoon when H. R. Laugh
lin, division superintendent of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad lifted the
soil, and Mrs. John L. Alcock, Of Tow.
son, past president of the Maryland
Federation of Women's clubs, planted
the first tree, during program which
began at $3.50 o'clock.
Representatives from twenty-four
organizations of Oakland, and other
interested citizens were present to
plant the trees which were presented
them by the Oakland Civic club. These
trees were obtained Tuesday morning
when Bernard Moon and Beldin RAM
sey, two boys of Oakland vicinity
went to McHenry and dug 81 native
maple trees and got them ready for
transplanting. The trees were then
hauled to the park by Mr.. Cecil RAM
sey and planted by organization rep
resentatives along the edge of the
park next to the Oakland Terra Alta
highway.
Program Carried Out
A program was arranged and car
ried out in spite of the downpour Of
rain which descended after the cere-
monies had started. The program was
as follows: selection by Gilbert-Brown
Boys Band of Oakland; invocation by
Rev. J. w. Dawson; welcome by DR..
H. w. McComas; scripture reading by
Rev. C. A. Shilke; recitation, "What
do we plant when we plant a tree?"
by Joseph Sollars; explanation of or
CARNATIONS tree planting, by DIR. H.
w. McComas; presentation of trees OF
the different organizations to the
Civic club by Mayor Grover Stemple;
planting of trees by Mrs. John AL
cock and Mr.. H. R. Laughlin; recita-
lions, "Shade" and "Salute to the
Trees, by Rev. w. B. Brock; accep-
lance of trees by president of Civic
club; planting of all other trees by
the organizations.
Washington Tree Presented
One of the features Of the program
was a surprise presentation by Mrs.
Alcock to Miss Lottie Loar, Civic
club president. She brought to Oak
land with her grandchild tree of the
Washington elm at Cambridge, Mass,
which she presented to Miss Loarwith
the idea that it be planted in her gar
den this year and transplanted near
Washington spring next year during
the George Washington bi-centennial
celebration.
A tree was planted by the Civic
club in honor of Mr.. Laughlin, who
was instrumental in securing the
ground for the public's use from the
railroad company. A tree was also
planted by the members of the Civic
club in honor of Miss Lottie Loar, its
president.
Last Friday evening twenty-nine
members of the scout troop of Oak
land raked the plot of ground on the
east bank of the Little Youghiogheny
river, and burned all brush, and is
expected to begin shortly on the base
ball diamond, tennis courts, ice skat-
ing pond and flower gardens. A me-
mortal will be made of Washington
spring and the work of restoring this
to it's original state has been taken
over by Oakland Lodge No. 1872, A.,
F., and A. M. This will be dedicated
next year during the bi-centennial
celebration.
Organizations which were represent
ted at the ceremony on Tuesday ir1-
clude the following: Rotary club,
Knights of Pythias, Masonic lodge,
American Legion, Volunteer Firemen,
Knights of Columbus, Parent-Teacher
association, Legion Auxiliary, Eastern
Star, Pythian Sisters, Boys Band,
Oakland Troop No. 1 Boy Scouts,
Mothers Circle, Parochial school,
High school, Grammar school, Junior
Drum and Bugle corps, Girl scouts,
Nightingales, Girls All club, Bar
association, School Board, County
Commissioners, Boys All club.
Following the program a tea was
held for members of the Civic club,
organization representatives and
guests, at the William-James hotel.
The decorations and refreshments
were suggestive of trees and tree
planting.
Men and boys are asked to be at the
park Friday evening at $50 o'clock.
DR.. Billiard will be in charge. The
landscape gardner of the B. and 0.
railroad will be in Oakland soon. !;