Searching collections:
“He That Planteth a Tree…”
Highland Park Junior High School students plant trees, 1930 (Photo courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University).
By the 1920s, much of Northern Michigan looked pretty bleak. Most of the forests that once blanketed the region were gone. The farms that followed the log drives had failed. The land was barren and abandoned.
On September 22, 1929, the Detroit News announced a plan. The people of Michigan, as individuals or groups, might participate in a program of reforestation to the cut-over, logged-off, burned-over land within the State Forest Reserves. The News set this idea in very poetic terms: “He that planteth a tree is the servant of God, He provideth a kindness for many generations, and faces that he hath not seen shall bless him.”[1] This plan had a universal appeal.
The Detroit News made arrangements with Michigan Department of Conservation officials to plant seedling pine trees in forty acre plots as memorials. For the plantings, the News specifically selected Jack, Norway, and White pine species. These species were native to Michigan and well suited to the State Forest Reserves in which they would rest.
Under the News’ plan, any individual or organization was given the opportunity to plant forty acres or more at the rate of $2.50 an acre ($100.00 for forty acres). The State would make up the remainder of the $5.50 to $7.50 per acre cost. Each individual or group would get a sign posted on the land, showing who paid for the seedlings and in whose memory they were planted. Although the News kicked off its program only a few weeks before the collapse of the stock market and the onset of the Great Depression, the project collected $20,000 within two months. It ultimately contributed to the planting of fifteen million trees with contributions from more than two hundred thousand people.[2]
Some of the group efforts came from Michigan schools. The schools collected money from their students to plant trees. At .25 cents a student, a school could raise enough money for forty or eighty acres. Veterans groups, municipal groups and individuals gave money for trees, as well.
Michigan citizens proved enthusiastic about bringing back northern forests, and the program continued into the early 1940s. Records in the Archives of Michigan reveal long lists of willing contributors.
The Michigan VFW plants trees, 1930 (Photo courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University.).
[1]Editorial in Detroit News, Sept. 22, 1929.
[2]Ruin & Recovery Michigan’s Rise as a Conservation Leader by Dave Dempsey, The University of Michigan Press, , 2001
This is interesting. Were most of these trees planted in southern MI? I’ve always been told that the rows of trees north of Lansing were planted by CCC.
Most of these trees were planted in the Northern Lower Peninsula and the U.P. in the designated State forests (They weren’t forests then!)
Wow! Fifteen million trees! Who did the actual planting? The wonderful photo at the beginning seems to show students planting a tree; did they participate in planting all the trees that their group donated? Thanks so much for the interesting article!
The Department of Conservation employees did most of the actual planting, but they couldn’t have done it without the seedlings!
40 acres were planted by Hutchins Intermediate School, in honor of my mother’s father, teacher Cecil D. Mattoon. My 85 year old Mom would love to know where this acreage is, and go see the plantings. Her dad died when she was only 18 months old, and it would mean so much to her. Is there any way to find out this information?
Kathy,
There is a list of donors and location of plantation in the collection. I don’t know if the Mattoon plantation is included. You are welcome to come to the Archives during our public hours (1 to 5 PM weekdays) and have a look!
Is there any possiblity of publishing the list of donors and plantations digitally on your website? In researching on-line I’ve seen photos of about 30 signs, half of them honoring an individual other than a public figure. I’m certain others are also interested in this information. The people who donated the funds for the trees intended them to remain as a memorial. The signs are no longer there, but in many cases the trees remain. I’m also looking for information for an elderly relative, and live out of state. In my case, it is the location of the planting for another group from Highland Park, Highland Park High School, honoring the soldiers of the Polar Bear Expedition. Given the limited hours of your institution, and (apparently) the inability of your staff to respond to research requests (really, you couldn’t have someone look this up for Kathy?), it would be wonderful to be able to search this index online.
Sally,
Due to limited staff and resources, we can’t put the lists on line at this time. I can tell you that the list goes from 1930 to 1934. One option is to hire a researcher. I can send you a list of professional researchers and you can negotiate with one of them. It may be less expensive that driving here. Feel free to e-mail me at taylorh1@michgan.gov., or call me at 517-373-1452. Thank you for your interest in this collection.
–Helen
Helen,
Do you remember the key word or phase you used to find the files on the Detroit New’s tree planting campaign? I am doing research on the conservation in Michigan and would like to look at these files.
Thank you
Patrick
Patrick,
The files I used are not on line. They are here at the Archives of Michigan. To view them you need to come to the Archives and ask for Accession 2011-14, from the Department of Natural Resources. Box 3, Folder 3 through 9. Our hours are 1-5 on weekdays and 10 to 4 on Saturdays. We have many other files from the Department of Natural Resources and it’s older incarnation the Department of Conservation as well. I hope to see you soon!
–Helen