City workers were busy Tuesday morning removing dead trees on Park Avenue. These trees were planted about 40 years ago and each one has a plaque naming a donor or a person in whose memory the tree was planted.
When I was on the Ten Cities Tree Committee, I did rubbings of a number of these plaques for inclusion in a display at the Plainfield Public Library. The range of donors and honorees was quite interesting.
I believe the tree removal was related to a Union County street improvement project, but I did not verify it Tuesday.
DeWitt Barlow was a former mayor of Plainfield for whom the
Barlow Elementary School was named.
This plaque is partially embedded in a new sidewalk.
It is in front of the former Thomas Furniture building, recently renovated as the
Courier News building.
"Compliments of Queen City Savings" is the legend on this plaque. Plainfield's downtown business district once had many banks. This bank became First Atlantic Savings in January 1986 according to
this list and then that bank closed, though the sign remains on the facade of the building.
These plaques have some historical value. After I began looking closely at them (easy to do if you are a pedestrian), I wished they could be preserved somewhere as changes take place downtown. They also represent a community effort reflective of a different era. Take a look the next time you are walking around the central business district.
--Bernice
Thank you for pointing out the plaques have value. The street erchants will now be stealing them
ReplyDeleteI'd love to think most of these trees are going to be rapidly replaced with new ones...
ReplyDeleteHaving a program in place like some cities do where merchants or residents nearby "adopt" them to ensure their success would be nice. But, that would require a proactive civic minded city government. Simple things that are free that inspire pride in the neighborhood or city seem so elusive to Plainfield.
It's a shame that Plainfield has done nothing to preserve our trees. Many tree problems are curable, but nothing is done. Look at the Library Park that was once so beautiful with large, old trees. Trees also need to be planted with enough soil to grow. I think the trees are a big part of Plainfield's pride and charm.
ReplyDeleteI see so many trees with those temporary support wires cutting into the bark after a few years. It is a SHAME.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice if the people of Plainfield actually took pride in the city? Perhaps the trees would be taken care of. The plaques serve as a reminder that there used to be a time when people actually cared about this city.
ReplyDeleteI worked for shade tree years and years ago we had 8 to 10 workers on shade tree, now there is 1 to 2, workers on shade tree, way to go plainfield with a city for their trees, just keep hiring more cops and firermen, just a reminder, 3 fire houses in plainfield within 6 square miles, N.Y has every 15 square miles for each fire house, way to go plainfield,keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteWhen Lou Jones were director shade tree got things done
ReplyDeleteThe plaques are certainly a reminder of a time when there were priorities and folks took pride in where they lived.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I ride around Plainfield, there are so many reminders of what used to be and what it can be, once again; but it can only turn around with the right type of leadership who will reinvest in rebuilding and restoring local treasures, and move towards stricter enforcement of building maintenance codes. So much neglect and abandonment in Plainfield, why?
Before we start trying to "pit" one part of government against the other we need to think how to get the most efficiency out of each department. We need the department heads to perform the duties we pay them to perform.
ReplyDeletePlainfield has had three firehouses covering the City since I have lived here. (a whole "lotta" years) If all politicians/workers did their jobs to benefit the City, Plainfield would thrive again!
Lou Jones had 5 times as many employes working for him.He was a nice guy may he rest in peace,times change plainfield can't afford 3 firehouses in your heart you know it.
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