PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Historical Society honored the Berkshires' first known environmentalist, Lucretia Williams, by planting an elm tree at Park Square on Thursday, Tree Planting Day.

 

It was not far from the spot where Williams had saved the Pittsfield elm tree from the axe 233 years before. 

 

The Historical Society has been looking for a way to honor Williams since before the pandemic, juggling ideas from a pamphlet to a children's book but when the pandemic hit the plans were sidelined, Executive Director Lesley Herzberg said. 

 

As the pandemic started to come to an end, they regathered to set the initiative back in motion.

 

After juggling a few ideas, education coordinator and writer-in-residence emeritus Jana Laiz had an epiphany to plant a tree. 

 

From there, the series of fortunate events commenced. They reached out to the city's Park, Open Space and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath only to discover that Park Square's elm tree had split and needed to be replaced. 

 

George and Alice Wislocki have been working with the Historical Society since the start of the project and donated the funds to purchase the new disease resistant American "Jefferson" elm that hails from Windy Hill Nursery in Great Barrington.

 

The planting of this elm is so much more than the planting of a tree, Alice Wislocki said. The tree is a symbol of preservation and activism. It is important to preserve historical and environmental aspects of the city. 

 

"This is the center of Pittsfield, maybe the Berkshires, and this little park has been lovely for people for generations and I think to document it is a wonderful thing for the Berkshires and I'm glad to be joining," George Wislocki said.

 

"This little park, it's wonderful for the Berkshires and it's remarkable that it has survived." 

 

For years, George, founder of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, looked out the window from his office and worried what was to come of the park. It is more than just a park, he said. It is at its core the loveliness of nature. 

 

Although Williams was a prominent leader of Pittsfield's community, her name is not well known. Even the plaque that currently sits at Park Square says "dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Williams," Herzberg said. 

 

"This is important for Pittsfield history and for women's history. She was the first environmentalist, really, she grabbed onto that tree and wouldn't let them cut it down, which I think is fascinating and wonderful."

 

The town fathers had voted to cut down the elm to build a larger meeting house in the square. Williams threw herself between the tree and axe. The elm would stand for another 70 years before being struck by lightning. It was estimated at more than 300 years old.  

 

John Chandler Williams continued his wife's efforts by donating land south of the elm so the town could build the meetinghouse elsewhere. 

 

The planting of the new elm is the first of many tree planting initiatives that are underway at Park Square, McGrath said, using funds from the Community Preservation Act.  

 

The city will address some of the structural issues in the park's maples and oaks, plant seven more trees around Arbor Day at Park Square, and will be investing in a permanent Christmas tree, McGrath said. 

 

"So, this is really exciting to have an elm tree back on Park Square for many, many years to come," he said.