In the northeast corner of the Itasca Cemetery, a larch tree grows.

Saturday, October 06, 2001

In the northeast corner of the Itasca Cemetery, a larch tree grows. It’s been called &uot;the grandfather of all similar trees growing in this part of the state. Huge in size, somewhat grotesque in shape, this rather scare tree, at least in these parts, is very old.&uot; It’s estimated that the tree was planted about 1880, since the cemetery was platted about 1873.

A sugar maple on the east end of Lakeview Elementary School was planted about 1899, when the Albert Lea Presbyterian College was located there.

There’s also a lilac which was brought as a plant to Itasca Village by an oxen-drawn wagon on the day Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860. It was planted by the Pickett family in front of their home on the south end of the Bath Road.

These are just a few of the living landmarks in Freeborn County. The Freeborn County Historical Museum is currently compiling a list of all trees in the county which have a special historical or family history.

Don Wedge, a member of the museum board, undertook the project after receiving a letter from American Forests and Xcel Energy which asked for nominations of trees to be included in the upcoming edition of the National Register of Famous & Historic Trees.

Xcel Energy is assisting American Forests by distributing nomination forms. Organizations and individuals are asked to nominate trees with significance in the community to be included in the register. The register of selected trees will be published in the spring of 2003.

American Forests was founded in 1875 by a group of citizens concerned about the diminishing timber and forest resources in America. The organization, which helped create the conservation movement and National Park Service, began in 1917 documenting and researching trees that witnesses the events and lives of American history.

&uot;Every community in America has special trees under which town fathers gathered to lay out plans for the community, trees that grow at historic places, birthplaces of America’s historic figures, places where legendary events occurred. Nominating a tree for the register gives each community a wonderful opportunity to celebrate its American heritage,&uot; according to American Forests.

Wedge encourages people to submit information on trees to the Freeborn County Historical Museum at 1031 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea. Include your name, address and phone number, as well as the name of the tree, location, a picture if available, and its historical significance.

Wedge said the goal is to eventually get photos of all the trees, a comprehensive record to stay with the museum, and some sort of commemorative plaque to stay with each tree.

For more information, call Wedge at 373-6142.