9. Tree Stories

There is no mistaking the pioneers’ love of trees. A scan of local histories reveals their attitudes clearly. As pioneers recall their early days in this land one is struck by their first impressions of the treeless prairie and the early attempts to break that endless horizon with trees.

That attitude or viewpoint might be summed up by this entry in the R.M. of Edward history:

“Later Mr. Minshull constructed wooden buildings on the NW 2-4-29 beside Graham Creek. Being a progressive farmer, he planted one of the first groves of trees in the community; ash, cottonwood, Russian poplar and Manitoba maple. All were supplied by Morden Nursery, except maples, which were grown from seeds probably picked up in bush along the creek. As time went on more shrubs and trees were planted - honeysuckles, lilacs and currant bushes and an ever present vegetable garden.” *P 556

That was the prevailing attitude…progressive farmers planted trees.

When we evaluate the benefits of planting trees we might just overlook their value as landmarks, as a story from the Melita History Illustrates:

“Marion J. (Reid) Robinson a teacher at West Brenda School tells of being storm stayed with several of her students in the school overnight in a blizzard. After a terrifying night when a parent, Mr. VanKleek arrived to escort them all home. The storm was still raging but they made their way to the school by keeping the wind in their backs, and didn't know where they were till they ran into the trees across the road from the school. “
In better conditions farm sites were identified by their farmyard shelters. Stories, sometimes tragic, are often told about being lost in snowstorms. Many times the grove of trees might be the only thing visible on the bleak prairie.
 

Excerpts from Local Histories

In no particular order, here are some brief excepts that highlight the pioneer feeling for trees:
 
From “Ebor Echoes”

- May 16, 1912 (M.N.) Young Harry is very busy these days planting trees and otherwise improving his property. P7

- In 1912 he was busy planting trees on his property and around town. P85

- This was our home for 7 years. In 1943, we built a new house and barn, tress planted, and fences up. P99

- There were no trees around the buildings so we planted a windbreak of maple and ash trees along with a caragana hedge, which now is as high as the maples. P140

From “Melita: Our First Century”

- In 1901 the Souris River Agriculture Society promoted Forestry. A speaker came for the purpose of teaching the kinds of trees to plant and how to plant them. A committee was set up: A. B. Estlin, R. M. Graham, A. Wilson, J. L. Campbell, A. D. Wheeler, and A. E. Thompson M.P. to carry the matter through in regards to government assistance and the supervision of small tree plantings on homesteads, towns, and parks. John Crerar set out 8000 trees in May that year and Mr. Richardson set out 1500 one and two year old seedlings of ash, maple, cottonwood, and elm and 500 Russian poplar.

- A carload of spruce trees arrived in Melita in May 1908 and 580 of these were planted in the area.

- In the spring of 1935, the year of the big rain, 4000 young trees were shipped from the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, Saskatchewan and planted around the farm buildings. They thrived, due in part to the care they received from George whose hobby was gardening. P409

- Because the Browns (William Henry) missed the trees back east so much, they drew small trees from the sandhills and river to plant a large grove of them to the west and north of the house, down both sides of their long lane to the road, finishing off with a row of evergreens to the east of the house. Many of these trees and all the evergreens were killed in the 1930's drought. P449

- Dr. Livingston has not neglected the 11th commandment for the farmers of Manitoba and states that he has set out on his farm about 1,000 trees. Most of these trees are now in a flourishing condition and add greatly to the appearance of his property which is particularly favoured by nature in this respect.

- They made their way to the school by keeping the wind in their backs, but didn't know where they were till they ran into the trees across the road from the school. P107

From “Trails Along the Pipestone”

- In the early 1900's, Reston was a grass land perpetuated by grass fires. Alf (Archer) promoted the planting of trees and flowers to anyone who was interested. He especially encouraged tree planting for "shelter belts" around farm lands and parks. In 1962, his work was recognized when he received an Honorary Life Membership to the Manitoba Horticultural Association. P529

- Lew (Berry) left a lasting memorial of his life when in the 1920's he planted a band of trees on the west side of the town of Cromer which has proven to be a great shelter for the little Village. There were about 9000 trees of numerous varieties planted in five or six rows. Should you ever visit the village, you will notice  Lewis's trees behind the church, alive and thriving today. P119

- Mr. Archer consulted with a Mr. A. P. Stevenson who inspected shelter belts in the district.

- Perhaps most notably, Smith brought small spruce trees from Riding Mountain National Park and planted these where no trees grew before, giving the Reston Cemetery its distinctive appearance ever since. P602

 
Arbor Day

Our love and appreciation for trees took shape in the form a day set aside just for trees.
The first Arbor Day in Canada is believed to have been celebrated in 1906 in Ontario.
It was often an important annual activity in schools, where students were involved in a variety of activities to learn about and appreciate trees. Students also planted trees in their schoolyards and communities.
Many of us remember school-based activities and the observation of the day.
A few items from Local Histories remind us that it was an idea that really caught on in the settlement era.
For instance in Melita, in 1899 meeting was held in the Metropolitan Hotel to consider the proposal to set out trees in the park and cemetery. A committee of A. B. Estlin and T. A. Blackwell was set up to canvass town for assistance in this project. On Arbor Day, 100 young maples were set out in the park.
 

Melita in the 1890’s. The trees were not very tall but it is evident that tree planting was underway.

And in 1924 on Arbor Day the Town Council under Councillor Schnell planted 65 trees from River Park, on Front Street to the Government Highway, and on Main Street in front of the Fire Hall.
In fact in the Melita School around 1908 the day seemed to rank alongside other “Holidays". An item in an old school register states that: “Arbor Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day were holidays since 1908.”

It was the idea of Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraskan journalist who later became the U.S. Agriculture Secretary, and was first celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1874.
By 1882, its observance had become a national event. Nebraska made Arbor Day a legal holiday in 1885, moving it to April 22, Morton’s birthday. An estimated one million trees were planted during the first Arbor Day.