Liberty Tree displayed in Zelienople, could be planted at the borough’s Four Corners Park
ZELIENOPLE — The last of the original Liberty Trees on St. John’s College campus in Maryland was damaged by Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
A seedling from that tulip poplar tree was displayed at Four Corners Park at the opening ceremony for the Tomb of the Unknown Solider Friday, July 3.
The seedling was procured by Adel Fatur, Zelienople Historical Society board member. Fatur obtained it earlier in spring from a collector after nearly a yearlong wait.
Fatur said she drove to Maryland and brought the seedling back home after being approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cross state lines with it. She also received a certificate of authenticity along with a written history of the Liberty Tree.
The original Liberty Tree was an elm tree in Boston which served as a gathering place for revolutionaries to plan for the future. That tree was toppled in 1775. However, new Liberty Trees have been planted across each one of the original colonies, according to Fatur.
Back in October, a Liberty Tree was planted at Moraine State Park.
The tree is meaningful “because it stands for freedom,” said Fatur. “Hopefully, it will be planted at the Memorial Park here in Zelienople.”
