University Commemorates the Power of Trees

On a holiday that celebrates the power of trees -- Arbor Day -- consider a lunchtime stroll through campus to view The University of Scranton's Dawn Redwood, a deciduous conifer species that was once considered extinct. 

"For over 30 years I've heard rumors that a special tree existed on campus. Last summer Gerry Zaboski (Senior Vice President, Office of the President) asked if I could check into it, and I discovered the tree was located between Alumni Memorial Hall and the Estate," said Mark Murphy, the University's Director of Sustainability and Energy Management.

A summer work study student in the Office of Sustainability, Nathaniel Smith '23, investigated the species and history of the tree and that information was used to generate artwork for a sign, shown, that will be placed near the tree's base in the coming months.

The tree is located between Alumni Memorial Hall and the Estate. If walking from Alumni Memorial Hall on the sidewalk that leads to the Acessible Parking spaces at the Estate, the tree is on your left about quarter of the way down the sidewalk.

Murphy estimates that the tree was planted in the early 1940s, just about the time the Society of Jesus took over the operation of the University and resided at the Estate. In the late summer of 1942, at the invitation of Bishop William Hafey, 19 Jesuits, including the University's first Jesuit President, Rev. Coleman Nevils, S.J. arrived on campus to administer the University.

Was there a Jesuit priest who might have planted the Dawn Redwood tree in the 1940s? Murphy said he'd love to receive any tips from the University community. Contact him at mark.murphy@scranton.edu 

Learn more about the "Living Fossil," or Metasequoia glyptostrobides, in this article from The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.