→ Arbor Day – This is from the Newton Citizen website on Tuesday.
Arbor Ardor: Oxford ready for historic Arbor Day celebration
Feb. 21 festivities to include awards and dedication
of William H. Murdy Arboretum
By Wade Marbaugh
wade.marbaugh@rockdalecitizen.com
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
© Copyright 2015 Newton Citizen
Oxford will celebrate Arbor Day Feb. 21 and gathered among trees
next to City Hall are several organizers, including, from left, Anderson
Wright, City Manager Bob Schwartz, almost-3-year-old Arthur Oliver, LaTrelle
Oliver, Hoyt Oliver and Mayor Jerry Roseberry. Wright and LaTrelle Oliver are
members of the Trees, Parks and Recreation Board, which is helping present the
celebration along with Oxford College. (Staff Photo: Wade Marbaugh)
OXFORD —
In a city known for its canopy, trees will be honored, a memorial arboretum
will be dedicated and awards will be handed out as the city of Oxford and
Oxford College of Emory University jointly celebrate Arbor Day next week.
The
festivities will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon in the
Oxford City Hall.
“The
event is unique this year because of joining with the college and creating the
living link between town and gown,” said LaTrelle Oliver, secretary of the
Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board in Oxford.
Oxford
College will receive the Tree Campus USA award for the first time. The Tree
City USA award will be presented to the city of Oxford for the 17th consecutive
year, and the second annual Friends of Oxford Trees award will be announced.
Additionally,
The William H. Murdy Arboretum at George Street Park will be dedicated. Murdy
served as dean of Oxford College and later as mayor of the city of Oxford.
“One of
his favorite trees, the southern sugar maple, will be planted at George Street
Park in his memory,” Oliver said.
Oliver
said the theme of the celebration is “The History of Tree Care in Oxford.” She
said a free booklet will be offered at the celebration “that does the best job
to date of presenting the history of caring for trees in this area, beginning
with the iconic Yarbrough Oak and the college’s early celebrations, for which
there remains little documentation.”
Oliver
said a group of readers for the program will present the “History and Legacy of
the Yarbrough Oak.”
“The
intention of the celebration this year is to gather and present in one place at
one time the cumulative facts and understandings for the very first time about
the tradition of caring for our ‘urban forest,’” Oliver said.
“This is
also an important year because it’s the first time city and college have
celebrated together. The work of Dr. Murdy, now deceased, and his former
student Dr. Eloise Carter (Oxford College biology professor and champion of the
school’s new science building), together with the vision of a few citizens,
create the cause celebre.”
George
Street Park sits between college property and city property, and its selection
as a host for the memorial arboretum represents an appropriate honor to Murdy,
Oliver said, because of his significant contributions to both the city and the
college.
Oxford
City Manager Bob Schwartz noted that celebration and planting of trees goes way
back in Oxford. He has copies of Oxford College Arbor Day posters and programs
dating back to 1891. The events included prayer, senior class history, class
prophesy, class poem, class song and tree plantings.
The
magnificent and famous Yarbrough Oak, which formerly stood on the corner of
Emory Street and West Clark Street across from City Hall, attracted much
admiration and devotion of Oxford citizens in the 19th century. City leaders
even became such devotees that they deeded the tree to itself in 1929. The deed
is framed and on the City Hall lobby wall, along with a colorful stylized
painting of the tree, entitled “Oxford at Sunset,” by local artist and
historian Erik Oliver, LaTrelle Oliver’s son. On the wall behind Mayor Jerry
Roseberry’s desk hangs an ink drawing of the tree.
The
Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board began propagating seeds of the tree in 1999,
as it was declining swiftly. Approximately 1,000 offspring seedlings were
planted in Oxford and surrounding cities, a way of preserving the Yarbrough Oak
legacy for future generations.
The TPR
Board, a volunteer group of seven members, was established by a city ordinance,
and members are appointed by the Oxford City Council. Schwartz and City Superintendent
Jody Reid are nonvoting participants.
Other
members of the Board are Cheryl Ready, chairperson, Anderson Wright, Andrea
O’Toole, Simon Perryman and Hulon Clemons.
LaTrelle
Oliver’s husband, Hoyt Oliver, is a former member of the Trees, Parks, and
Recreation Board. Trees are an Oliver family avocation.
The
public is invited to the celebration, and refreshments will be served.
Reservations are not necessary.
“I hope
everyone will attend the celebration and also view the site and signage for the
Murdy Arboretum. You won’t be disappointed,” Oliver said.
For
further information, call 770-786-7004 (Oxford city) or 770-784-8478 (Oxford
College).
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