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Arboretum Birthday

Leah Thibodeau, 5, of Woodstock, is getting a tree seedling. The newly revealed spring area and taking photos. Linda Lemmon photos. 

 

 

 

 

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Arboretum 'Family'

Members of the Dean and Palmer families were invited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Palmer Arboretum. Left to right: Pam Fox, Fred Campbell (his grandfather worked for Charles Dean), Phil Dean, Betty (Prosser) Poulin, Stephen Palmer and Brigitte Palmer. Linda Lemmon photo.

 

 

 

 

By Linda Lemmon

Town Crier Editor

WOODSTOCK --- Even a spat of rain couldn't dampen the anniversary candles at the Palmer Arboretum May 4. The reborn arboretum turned 100 years old and more than 100 people, including some "family" members celebrated.

Members of the Dean and Palmer families attended the celebration that was months in the planning. The arboretum was founded in 1914 by Charles and Minnie Palmer Dean. Free trees were offered. Tours of the arboretum were done and the history of the arboretum was covered in photos and more.

Volunteer members of the arboretum board have made the arboretum blossom from overgrown to a gem. Matthew Sheldon transformed, with some help, an overgrown spring area. He eradicated multifloral roses, euonymus and bittersweet. He built paths and bridges and turned a catalpa tree lost in the October storm into chairs, benches and tables. He requested that the spring be named for James W. Milnor, a Woodstock educator and naturalist. The rain garden built recently redirects water down to the spring and more drainage work has been done in the arboretum. 

The arboretum board's Bill Brower said the committee received a citation from the general assembly presented by Mike Alberts "congratulating us on the 100th anniversary." He added, "It was especially gratifying to hear people amazed that they never knew such a great little place existed in town and great to hear previous board members happy with the continuing improvements. And the volunteer work that Matthew Sheldon has done for us is amazing."