SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – An exciting, historical event occurred recently in Springfield, Vt., at the Crown Point Country Club. On June 30, at 5 p.m., more than 60 people gathered to celebrate the planting of a Liberty Tree by the Springfield Garden Club (SGC). This event, in turn, was part of a larger effort to plant 250 Liberty Trees across the nation by July 4, the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation.
This story begins in 1775, in Boston, Mass., where Patriots would gather below an old elm tree known as the Liberty Tree near Boston Common to discuss their dissatisfaction with British rule. The British sought to disrupt these gatherings and cut the tree down in August of that year. That, obviously, did not deter the Patriots, who went on to defeat the British in the Revolutionary War that involved the Crown Point Road.
Skip to 2023, when the Sons of the American Revolution formed the 250th SAR Liberty Tree Program with the goal of planting 250 disease-resistant Princeton elm trees, with at least one in every state. As of today, 325 Liberty Trees have been planted in 47 states. The tree in Springfield is the 291st tree to be recorded and one of only three in the State of Vermont.
Just this spring, SGC member Karen Jarret notified the garden club about the Liberty Tree project. It was enthusiastically embraced by the club, which quickly formed an ad hoc committee. In trying to decide where to install it, the Crown Point Country Club (CPCC) came to mind, as the historic Crown Point Road passes through it and the site is accessible to the public. The CPCC graciously agreed to welcome the tree on its premises. The tree was then ordered through Woodbury Florist, and it was planted by them on June 7, at the CPCC near Crown Point Road Marker No. 14.
June 30 brought a little rain, but still brought a full house to join in the dedication ceremony. Mike Martin started off by stating the CPCC was honored to be the permanent home of the Liberty Tree, and then introduced the SGC president, Adrienne Faulhaber, who led the program. Faulhaber welcomed representatives from the Crown Point Country Club, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Springfield, Springfield on the Move, the Springfield Art and Historical Society, the Charlestown VFW, The Fort at No. 4, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Springfield Reporter, WCAX Channel 3, Woodbury Florist, The Rockingham Historic Preservation Society, and the Crown Point Road Association; local veterans; and the public. She told the crowd that, “Today, we are celebrating the planting of a new Liberty Tree to honor the legacy of this Crown Point Road and the history here, and to honor all of the veterans who have answered the call to serve and protect our freedoms and rights as citizens.” Tim O’Hearne from the Charlestown VFW then led everyone in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance while reenactors in costume from The Fort at No. 4, Eric and Barbara Bye, held up a 1776-era flag.
Next, Karen Oehl, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Springfield, led the singing of the national anthem. Jeff Taft-Dick, an unofficial CPCC historian and SGC member, gave a brief history of the Crown Point Road and noted that Leland Lawrence, a founding member of the CPCC, suggested that the CPCC be named after the historical road. Taft-Dick also told an interesting story about President Dwight Eisenhower being given an honorary membership to the CPCC; the president ordinarily did not accept memberships to clubs, but made an exception because of the history involved. This was followed by a dedication prayer by Karen Oehl, who asked that the act of planting this tree be received as a “pledge of commitment to liberty and justice for all.”
Beverages and a large assortment of hors d’oerves and desserts were provided afterward by SGC members. More information about the SGC and photos of the event can be found at the SGC’s Facebook page, Springfield Garden Club of Vermont.
The progress of the Liberty Tree project can be followed at www.piedmontchapter.org/Pages/NSSARLibertyTreeProject.htm.