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Committee moves forward on 250th-anniversary Liberty Tree marker; school committee engagement planned
Summary
The committee reported progress on a 250th-anniversary Liberty Tree project: outreach to the school committee, a proposed dedication at July 4, and a $1,500 estimate to mount a locally sourced glacial boulder and plaque. Next steps include school-committee review and land-bank follow-up.
Mary Lanthicker, a committee member, said the group has secured positive initial interest from the school committee and is lining up site logistics for a 250th-anniversary Liberty Tree dedication.
Mary said she "spoke to Vince Murphy. He is a member of the school committee, and, he's enthusiastically in favor. He said he would get it on the agenda for their March meeting" and that the committee would aim to appear and provide details to the school committee. The project would include a plaque and a mounted boulder near the high school. Committee discussion also covered ownership of the specific corner and whether the town or the school owns the parcel.
The committee chair reported a local supplier could provide a glacial boulder and estimated the cost to mount it at about $1,500. Mary and other members said the Sons of the American Revolution are spearheading the nationwide effort and would "spearhead" the project locally while the committee would handle local logistics and funding for installation. Mary described the initiative: part 1 is to dedicate the large elm outside the Mary Walker Auditorium as the local Liberty Tree, and part 2 is to plant elm trees along North Liberty and Liberty Street in 2026.
Committee members discussed involving students in the dedication and noted they had reached out to the land bank about planting on the Lily Pond property on North Liberty Street but had not yet received a response. The committee also identified sources for historical photos and records (the NHA and local archives) to help date and contextualize the elm for plaque text.
The committee agreed to continue coordination with the school committee, the land bank and the DPW (which could assist with installation). The item will return for updates at a future meeting; Mary said she will seek particulars for a plaque and report back.
