It was after we received our first Tree City USA award that the Merchantville N. J. Shade Tree Commission decided they wanted to do more. So a Memorial Tree Committee was established. How can you do much more with a budget of $ 1650.00? Not enough to remove dead trees and stumps, let alone trim and plant new ones. Sending out a letter begging for donations did not seem appropriate. The idea came up to establish a Memorial Tree Fund.
The purpose was not for profit, but to relieve our tax payers, and keep our proud heritage of shade trees alive. It was determined that a tree with a brassplate on a 4″ x 4″ x 4′, cement surveyors marker, could be obtained for $150.00. A tree already in place could be adopted, with the marker for $75.00. Our first taker was the Merchantville Lions Club for a memorial in Memory of charter member Stewart Holman of Rice and Holman, a respected member. This was placed at the First Presbyterian Church in 1979. The tree is now a mighty oak. The idea took off with a prompt result of 37 Brass Markers. Vandalism became a problem. Brass having value, the plates were being pried off and sold by vandals.
One of our members noticed while vacationing in Rehoboth Beach, DE, that the main street was lined with memorial trees and marked in memory of a loved one with a marble plaque embedded in a block of cement. Checking with Rehoboth Beach officials, it was learned, these were available at $350.00 each with or without a tree. They shared their supplier but not their cost. It was William V. Sipple & Son in Milford, DE. This being on the way home, a visit was made to Mr. Sipple, a veteran of World War I.
Mr. Sipple was a very nice old gentleman, sympathetic to our cause and quoted a price. The price was little more than our engraved brass. This said that Rehoboth Beach was in it for the money not the trees. The Shade Tree Commission was off on the new system which completely solved the vandalism problem. Our price did not change. When Mr. Sipple died, Merchantville placed a memorial tree in his memory. It was placed in front of the PNC Bank and dedicated on Memorial Day. This act cemented a fine relationship and the price has never changed, though costs have gone up. A more local source was checked and found to be way out of line with the present source. Many other communities have come to us. We reveal our source but not our cost. We note that no other community has adopted such a program. It was 28 years ago, when Dr. Wally Hussong, then President of the Merchantville Shade Tree Commission appointed Frank White and Joe Atchison to the Memorial Tree Committee. Although long retired, they have kept the tradition going.
