History: Arbor Day

Friday, April 25 was Arbor Day, which is a day set aside for planting trees and beautifying the parks and yards. Arbor Day began in the mid-1800s, and at the time was a spring celebration here in Wyoming.

It is an old holiday, which begin in 1854, by Julius Sterling Morton and his wife settled in Nebraska, City, Neb. They purchased 160 acres of flat land, and began planting trees and shrubs on it. When Morton was editor of the Nebraska City News, he began stressing the value of planting trees.

Other governors, including Wyoming Territorial Governor Thomas Moonlight, who was appointed by President Cleveland in 1887, followed suit by issuing proclamations celebrating the day.

Big Horn Sentinel, Buffalo, Saturday, April 14, 1888 – Proclamation: The following act of the Tenth legislative assembly became a law by approval March 1888: “Section 1. The governor shall annually, in the spring, designate by official proclamation, an Arbor Day, to be observed by the schools, and for economic tree planting, and the same shall be a legal holiday.”

Pursuant to the foregoing and for the purpose of giving the same full force and effect, Friday. April the 27th, 1888, is hereby designated as Arbor Day and I request that it be observed through 1 out the territory by the planting of trees, shrubs and vines; by the beautifying of homes, highways, public grounds, churchyards and other public and private places.

As the enactment seen in more particularly to apply to the schools, I earnestly urge upon the president of the university and the superintendent so the various counties to give especial attention to tree culture, so that all principals, teachers and pupils may become interested in the work of tree planting. I further invite the co-operation of all good citizens, and exhort them to aid and assist in beginning a work which if faithfully carried out, will be of great value, as well as much comfort to the present and future generations. In testimony where of, I have here unto set my hand and caused to be affixed the great Seal of the Territory of Wyoming. Doneat Cheyenne March 31, 1888 Thomas Moonlight By the governor, S.D. Shannon, Secretary of the Territory.

Celebrations were held throughout Wyoming to celebrate the day, like this one that was planned in Sheridan.

Sheridan Daily Journal, April 22, 1896

In the Sheridan Post on Tuesday, March 28, 1911 it tells a bit about the history of Arbor Day.

Arbor Day Date Fixed Friday, April Twenty-Eighth, As Proclaimed By Governor. The Proclamation Urging That the People of Wyoming Plant Trees, Shrubs and Flowers About Homes and Schools. State of Wyoming, Executive Department The opportunity has come to few Americans to make a greater Impression for good upon a new country than that which came to the late J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska, the states man and public benefactor.

Mr. Morton reached a high position of honor in his state and In the nation. A practical farmer, he made agriculture grow in the estimation of those who were so fortunate as to come In personal contact with him or to read what be wrote. He attained a high position as a cabinet minister at the head of the department of agriculture, but he brought to himself the highest honor when he conceived the Idea and secured the passage of a law making an Arbor day for his state, a holiday to be set apart each returning spring to be devoted by the young und old to tree, shrub and flower planting.

Being legalized by most of the states and territories If at once became a nation’s day, and no day in the year is better observed, is more enjoyed and is productive of more good. Happily, Mr. Morton lived to see the plains of his state dotted with thousands of acres of trees, productive orchards and vineyards. Arbor day necessarily comes In the spring, one of the most enjoyable of the seasons, for it. is then that all nature comes forth In a new life and attire. Another resurrection of verdure and beauty is at hand. Now is the season when the husbandman who sows is promised that at the end of summer he shall reap a harvest; when he who plants trees may see their buds burst forth with foliage and when the shrub will bring forth a season of flowers.

Therefore, that all the people of the state may be prepared and that all may act with unanimity and in accord, I Joseph M. Carey, governor of Wyoming, following the law and custom of the state, do hereby proclaim Friday, April 28, 1911 as Arbor day, and earnestly ask and recommend that all, young and old, observe the day by planting trees, shrubs and Sowers around the homes, school, houses, in the parks, on the ranches and farms, along the irrigation ditches and water courses, in the meadows, and wherever else they may be made to grow.

In Witness Whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State of Wyoming to be here unto affixed, given under my hand at the capitol In Cheyenne, this twenty-fourth day of March, 1911.Joseph Carey, Governor. By the Governor: Frank L. House, Secretary of State

The Sheridan Post, April 13, 1906 – ARBOR DAY It will be seen by the governor’s proclamation given in this issue that April 27th has been selected as Arbor Day. In a country like Wyoming which is largely made up of treeless plains Arbor Day should be participated in by every citizen who possesses in a proper degree, state pride. Trees should not only be planted on this occasion but provision should be made for their irrigation during the growing season, for the labor of planting is certain to be lost unless water be furnished at stated intervals.

There are reasons why everybody in the state should plant trees and we need not go far to find them. First, the forest trees will in a large degree serve to modify high winds and thus protect livestock as well its people against the pitiless storms of winter and spring. Forests planted in the right places will add greatly to the comfort of those who live in either the town or the country.

Second, belts of timber grown across the lands under water will to a large extent reduce the quantity of moisture needed in irrigation, as these forests serve to retain the snow and rain, thus preventing it from creating floods and going to waste.

Third, the coming generation will have a right to demand from us a country worthy of their progenitors; herefore we must not undertake the duties of Arbor Day in a halfhearted way but enter upon it with a full determination to do our best, not only to plant trees ourselves but to induce our friends and neighbors to do likewise. At our schools, as a matter of course is necessary for us to have literary exercises regarding the forests, the planting of trees and all that, but remember we must add object lessons in actual planting to make the occasion worthy of those who participate.

SHERIDAN Post March 27,1908 – Arbor day will soon be here, and it is to be hoped that there will be general observance of the custom signalized by the day and not only on that day alone, but during all the spring following. Arbor day is set aside for the purpose of stimulating among young and old alike an interest in improving their surroundings, by setting out trees and shrubs and otherwise beautifying their property.

The city should set a good example by doing more work on Kendrick park in the way of sowing grass, planting trees and making other improvements.

Sheridan citizens generally took delight in the park last Summer, and with added attractiveness it will soon become an ideal place in which to spend the pleasant summer afternoons and evenings

For awhile, Arbor Day was a legal holiday in Wyoming, as we see in this clipping.

The Daily Enterprise, April 19, 1910

School students had a break as well, as the schools were let out to celebrate the day.

The Sheridan Enterprise, April 21, 1913

Although it is not a national holiday today, Arbor Day is still worth celebrating by planting a tree, or a shrub to help beautify your little corner of the world. Happy Arbor Day.