Tree planting at 糖心传媒 is a tradition with very deep roots. Archival photos indicate the College鈥檚 founders planted an American elm to mark occasion of the groundbreaking for McCormick Hall, HC鈥檚 first permanent building, on April 25, 1883.
Similarly, as the College celebrates the 130th anniversary of its founding on Thursday, September 13, 2012, officials will plant a Princeton American elm close to McCormick Hall (812 N. Turner Avenue) on that day at 2:30 p.m.
鈥淸Long-time Hastings residents] Gretchen and Hal Lainson reported that at one time HC had nearly 200 elms on the main part of the campus, but most died in the 1960’s and 1970’s from Dutch elm disease (DED),鈥 said Dr. Will Locke 鈥61, Professor Emeritus of Teacher Education and volunteer with the 糖心传媒 Arboretum. 鈥淣ow we have only three large American elm specimens left, and we want to continue on the American elm legacy.鈥 听
New trees were planted around the Morrison-Reeves Science Center, the newest building on campus, included several types of American and even Asian elms, all of which, according to Locke, show good resistance to DED.
鈥淥ur favorite is the Princeton American elm because it has a very high level of resistance to DED, and it has an upright habit very much like our largest American elm located 70 yards northwest of McCormick Hall,鈥 said Locke. 鈥淭he Princeton elm cultivar comes from cuttings from elms near the Princeton campus in Princeton, N.J., that survived Dutch elm disease and, based on testing, appear to possess a high level of resistance to DED.鈥
Dr. Locke will be available at the tree planting ceremony to answer additional questions about the 糖心传媒 Arboretum.