Arbor Day's Founder Has His ROOTS
in Jefferson County NY!
2008 Arbor Day Celebration...Read More!!!
and
2008 Press Release for the Event
Arbor Day in Watertown is celebrated on the last Friday in April. The City Planning Office and Tree Watertown coordinate an annual celebration marking the event. The celebration includes a tree planting ceremony, speeches by local dignitaries and members of Tree Watertown. A reception normally follows. The location varies by year. Check the City of Watertown web site each April for additional information.
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Some background:
J Sterling Morton, agriculturist, was born on April 22 1832 in Jefferson County, Adams NY.
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The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton, who worked to improve agricultural techniques in his adopted state and throughout the United States when he served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture.
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His most important legacy is Arbor Day. He proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees.
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Nebraska's first Arbor Day was an amazing success. More than one million trees were planted.
A second Arbor Day took place in 1884 and the young state of Nebraska made it an annual legal holiday in 1885, using April 22nd to coincide with Morton's birthday.
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Morton's idea quickly spread. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states and in many other countries. Actual dates of the event differ for each area depending on planting times.
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Since 1980, every state has designated its own special date for Arbor Day celebrations. Dates are timed to match seasonal conditions appropriate for tree planting in each state. |
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Watertown Noon Rotary Club 2004 Tree Planting Project.
The Watertown Noon Rotary Club has been planting trees in the City each spring since 1976. The City became involved with the project in 1995 teaming with Rotary on a planting project along Rand Drive and has worked with Rotary every year since then. The Planning Office selects planting sites and tree species and then coordinates with the Department of Public Works to pre-dig the planting holes. On Saturday, May 1, 2004 Rotary Club members will be planting 22 trees in the 200 Block of St. Mary Street and 28 trees in the 400 Block of Flower Avenue East.
Department of Public Works 2004 Tree Planting Project.
This annual project, first held in 1997 is conducted by City DPW crews with technical assistance from the Planning Office. The Planning Office selects planting sites, develops planting plans, orders the trees and coordinates the marking of underground utilities. The City will begin planting trees on April 29, 2004 and continue through the first part of May. This year's project will involve the planting of 100 trees at several locations throughout the City including Fairmont Avenue, Winslow Street, Thompson Park and other individual locations.
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Prior Years:
 View Photos from our April 27 2007 planting
Pictures from our 2005 Event!
April 26, 2002,we planted a tree in Thompson Park to mark the occasion. The event started at noon and now, we have a new sugar maple!
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The City of Watertown's Planners office has organized several tree planting projects for this spring:
- Watertown Rotary Club Tree Planting Project. This annual project brings together the local Noon Rotary Club and the City to plant trees throughout the City. Rotary has been planting trees in the City each spring since 1976. The City became involved with the project in 1995 teaming with Rotary on a planting project along Rand Drive. The way the project works is like this. The Planning Office, with assistance from the Rotary Tree Committee selects planting sites within the City. Planning then develops a planting plan for the site, selecting appropriate tree species and tree locations and then orders bare root trees from a regional tree nursery. We then coordinate with the Department of Public Works to pre-dig the planting holes. The Rotarians then come together on a Saturday morning in April to plant the trees. This year, the Rotary tree planting will be held on April 27 at 8:00 am at North Elementary School and Starbuck School, both located on East Hoard Street. A total of 65 trees will be planted. The Rotary Club also pays for approximately half of the cost of the trees. The City pays the other half.
Department of Public Works Tree Planting Project. This annual project, first held in 1997 is conducted by City DPW crews with technical assistance from the Planning Office. The Planning Office selects planting sites, develops planting plans, orders the trees and coordinates the marking of underground utilities. This year's project will be held in late April and will involve the planting of 87 trees at several locations including Starbuck Avenue, Pearl Street, South Pearl Avenue, Mechanic Street and Thompson Park.
- Community Reforestation Project. This project involves the planting of 165 trees at various locations within the City of Watertown. Funding for this project is supported by a grant through Niagara Mohawk’s 10,000 Trees Grant Program. Planting plans and specifications were developed by the Planning Office for this project which was let for bid in February. Island Tree Company, a local landscape contractor, was the low bidder and will be responsible for planting the trees. The project will be coordinated by our office. The following locations will be planted under this program: Rand Drive - New Road to JCC, Goodale Street - Along City Hall Parking Lot, Bishop Street, Colorado Avenue, Arlington Street, Thompson Park, City Quarry and Various Property Owner Request Sites.
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