Arbor Day, Circa 1910

April 12, 1990

By Isabel Morse Maresh

It was not so many years ago that each town controlled its own schools, and had a school in each neighborhood. At that time, each holiday had special meaning for the pupils because of the dedication of the teachers. Imagine teaching 10 to 30 or more students in a one-room schoolhouse, keeping them disciplined, and keeping the respect of the students. It brings back fond memories to those of us who were schooled in the neighborhood schoolhouse.

An article in a 1910 Waldo County Herald reported on the observation of Arbor Day in Belmont by the suspension of regular lessons and devoting the afternoon to activities befitting the day.

Mrs. Frank Hall, teacher of the school at Centre Belmont, reported a very pleasing entertainment by the students for vising parents and friends. Recitations were given by Hazel, Clarence, Bertha, and Susie Morse; Colby Howard; Merril Hartshorn; Herman Fowles; Mildred, Keith, and Cleave Tower; Arathusa Mansfield; Everett Morse; Edgar Simmons; Robie Marriner; Louisa and Ernest Wellman; and Pearl Fowles.

The Hall's Corner School program had each boy telling of some tree that grows in Maine — about its appearance, manner of growth, and usefulness to man as wood or lumber. Lester Allenwood told of the white ash; Dunne Brownville, the beech; Pearlie Donaldson, the locust; and Charlie Crocker, the rock or sugar maple. Remarks were made by several visitors, including N.B. Allenwood, Mrs. Woodbridge, and Mrs. Hiram Farrow.

At Belmont Corner School, the celebration of Arbor Day was planned by the teacher, Mrs. Abbie M. Ordway. A tree was planted in the schoolyard as the feature of the day.

At White's Corner School, the teacher, Miss Bertha E. Jackson, assigned at the beginning of the term the name of a tree to each bo9y and was told to find out all he could about it and report on it in the program. The report given by the young boys showed that they had given the assignment much time and thought.

Recitations were given by Austin Bryant; Ralph, George, and Harold White; Maud Johnson; John A. Hyde; and Samuel Payson.

Papers were written about tress and recited by students: pine, Marion Wooster; maple, Marion Greer; birch, Ethel Greer; locust, Albert Clement; cedar Ivan Wooster; and cherry, Mildred Morril. The parents who attended the program were Mrs. John S. Hyde, Mrs. Fred Fenwick, Mrs. Fred White, and others.

A flower garden, as well as a tree, was planted in the schoolyard. At each school, the Hon. E.C. Burleigh presented each pupil with packets of vegetable and flower seeds to take home.

Thus, the first general celebration of Arbor Day pleasantly passed in all of the schools of the town of Belmont, and thanks were given to all who participated, and to the parents and visitors who showed their interest in the welfare of the school.