Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

1912 - Children To Plant Trees - James H. Smart School Youngsters To Get Lessons - Forrester Getz

Article from Oct 24, 1912 The Fort Wayne News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1912, James h. smart, Plant trees, Forrester carl getz

1912 - Children To Plant Trees - James H. Smart School Youngsters To Get Lessons - Forrester Getz The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, October 24, 1912, Page 2.

CHILDREN TO PLANT TREES

JAMES H. SMART SCHOOL YOUNGSTERS TO GET LESSON.

Forester Carl Getz Will Deliver Two Talks to School Children on Arbor Day (Friday).

Friday will be fittingly celebrated in the city schools as Arbor day, and in at least two of them special exercises will be held, with Forester Carl J. Getz delivering talks. At the James H. Smart school the children will plant nineteen American elms donated for the purpose by the firm Griffith & Fair, who designed the new building. The trees will be planted in the playgrounds directly adjoining the school, and the work will be done by the youngsters under the direction of Mr. Getz, who at 2 o'clock will deliver a talk "Tree Planting" for the children, An extensive program calculated to instill into the minds of the children a love for trees and plants will be followed out.

At 3 o'clock Mr. Getz will deliver a talk at the Miner school on "The Significance of Arbor Day and the Lesson It Should Teach the Children." The parents of the children of both schools hare been invited to hear the lectures and enjoy the programs.

Friday, April 25, 2025 post by the City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

Today, Mayor Sharon Tucker joined Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation to celebrate Arbor Day, commemorating our city’s 35th consecutive year of being recognized as a Tree City USA® by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Read more: FORT WAYNE EARNS TREE CITY USA® AND GROWTH AWARD FROM ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION

Friday, April 25, 2025 post by the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne on Facebook:

When you plant a tree, you're planting a healthier future for your community.

At this week's Fort Wayne Rotary meeting, we were inspired by Derek Veit, Superintendent of Urban Forestry for the City of Fort Wayne, and Kody Tinnel, Co-Founder of the Tree Canopy Growth Fund. Together, they shared the urgent story of Fort Wayne's shrinking tree canopy, the deep connection between trees and community health, and how each of us can help turn this around.

In the past decade, Fort Wayne lost nearly 20% of its tree canopy. This matters more than you might think. Trees don’t just beautify our streets — they:

Improve mental and physical health
Reduce stress and social isolation
Create safer, more connected neighborhoods
Derek explained how tree loss comes from disease, development, and simply not making trees a priority. But there’s good news: we have the power to restore and grow our canopy.
Enter the Tree Canopy Growth Fund, a grassroots initiative with a clear mission: foster community health through urban tree planting and education. Kody and Derek have:
Partnered with schools, churches, and neighborhoods
Given away hundreds of free trees
Educated residents on tree care
Raised awareness about the health benefits of nature exposure
This isn’t their full-time job. It’s their passion project. And thanks to their work, the community is responding. At their most recent giveaway, all 250 trees were claimed in under an hour!

You can help too:
Volunteer for local planting events
Support the Tree Canopy Growth Fund financially
Advocate for green spaces in your neighborhood
Plant and care for trees on your property
Let’s regrow Fort Wayne’s canopy, one tree at a time. Because healthier trees mean healthier people.

April 25, 2025 post by the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry  on Facebook:

HAPPY ARBOR DAY INDIANA! ! Did you know Arbor Day has been celebrated in the United States for over 150 years? The first Arbor Day was celebrated in the largely tree-less Nebraska in April 1872. J. Sterling Morton, a newspaper editor turned politician, knew trees would create shade, protect soil, make windbreaks, and provide timber for Nebraska. So, he encouraged citizens to come together and plant trees - and they did! Over 1 million trees were estimated to be planted on the first Arbor Day!

Learn more about Arbor Day events and outreach programs in Indiana at Community & Urban Forestry

Friday, April 25, 2025 post by the Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters on Facebook:

This #ArborDay, we honor more than nature’s beauty—we commemorate the legacy of the American Patriots who helped shape our nation. The DAR’s Pathway of the Patriots is a living tribute of 250 trees being planted to honor the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence.

As we celebrate #America250, each tree becomes a bridge between past and future—a symbol of remembrance, resilience, and hope.

Learn more: A Tribute to the Patriots The DAR Pathway of the Patriots serves as a living tribute to honor the memory and the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence.

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