Many of you will remember, with some sadness, that in October 2009 we lost the magnificent American beech tree along the privet hedge in the north graveyard. We believe that it had stood there for over 200 years. It was a landmark tree that experts told us a few years ago was one of the very largest beech trees in New Jersey. We tried to keep it alive by cabling the branches when they appeared to be losing strength, but to no avail. On a calm, clear day, and with a thundering crash, the branches gave way and the tree split down the middle. It was time to take the tree down the rest of the way for safety’s sake. The grand stump still remains in its spot and for those of you who never saw the old tree, its great girth indicates the huge size of the tree that once stood there.
Fast forward to early 2012, and folks began to imagine a new tree in the north graveyard near the spot where the old beech stood. Through a combined effort of congregation members and Main Street volunteers, a plan took “root.” Our church members Kris Deni and Rich Levandowski decided to donate a new tree that would be a memorial to Kris’s daughter, Leah, who died in December 2004. According to Kris, when Leah was a child, she was always climbing one tree or another and, in her 20’s, became an ardent defender of the environment. This tree would be a wonderful tribute to her. So Kris, with help from others, chose a new tree—a copper beech—to take the place of the fallen tree, and it was planted a few weeks ago.
On Sunday, April 29, at noon, the town and the church will gather together in the north graveyard to commemorate the new tree during the Lawrenceville Main Street Jubilee celebration that runs from 12-5 p.m. that day. At that time, folks will be able to buy pieces of the old beech in the form of cheese and bread boards, priced from $20-$40, which have been first-cut by Willard Brothers. The Men’s Group of the church will sand and oil them, as well as brand the bottom with a commemorative stamp. The proceeds from the sale will help offset the cost of removing the old beech tree and the milling of the wood. We hope you can join us that day.
