Danvers Tree Planting Celebration Friday: Do You Know Arbor Day Was Started by a Nebraska Man?

Arbor Day Celebration in Danvers

“In 1854 J Sterling Morton moved from Detroit to the area that is now Nebraska. He and other pioneers noticed a lack of trees, which were needed to act as windbreaks to stabilize the soil and to give shade from the sun. Morton planted many trees around his own home and encouraged others to do the same.

On January 4, 1872, he proposed a holiday to plant trees on April 10 that year. This was known as “Arbor Day” and prizes were awarded to the counties and individuals who planted the most trees on the day. About one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. In 1885, Arbor Day became a legal holiday and was moved to April 22, which was Morton’s birthday. In 1989 the official state holiday was moved to the last Friday in April. All states in the US now have an official Arbor Day, usually at a time of year that is has the best weather conditions for planting trees.’ -- timeanddate.com

An Arbor Day tree planting ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., at the Thorpe Elementary School on Friday, May 1 in celebration of Arbor Day.

A purple leaf plum, donated by the Danvers Garden Club will be planted in the front island. There will be representative students of the school participating in the ceremony as well as planting the tree. This program is a combined effort between the Forestry Division, Danvers Garden Club and Thorpe School.

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