Revere the Shoemaker Holly on Arbor Day

MARMORA — Today is National Arbor Day. The arboreal celebration has roots in the Nebraska Territory, planted by newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton, a nature lover. It’s been a national day to revere all trees since 1882.
Sounds like a long time, doesn’t it? To a certain tree in this Upper Township community, it’s like yesterday.
On the windy day before Arbor Day 2015, we interviewed Cape May County’s equivalent of a California Sequoia. Not as tall, at 60 feet, or as old, “only” 325 or so years, but it is reportedly the oldest holly in the Garden State, and possibly the nation’s oldest.
Shoemaker Holly stands just west of milepost 22.8 northbound on the Garden State Parkway in a rest area with some picnic tables that don’t show much use.
It is, according to a sign at its base in the picnic area, at least 325 years old. That fact, like temperature, which is also a number, over a certain number of digits, is proof age makes no difference.
Another plaque at its base notes that the American holly was originally within the crosshairs of the Garden State Parkway. Fortunate for the holly, caring tree huggers persuaded the ax wielders to spare the 60-foot tall tree that, to this day, seems healthy with shiny green leaves.
“Arbor Day? There was no such thing when I was just a red berry, dropped here by a bird,” said the tree.
“May I add, that in over three and a quarter centuries, you are the first human who ever asked for an interview,” it continued.
Honorable holly, what things do you remember, having grown up and old in the Garden State?
“The first humans I saw were what you call Lenapes. They cared about us trees and everything else around here. Some even slept under me when they were getting ready to cross the marsh going to the island out there,” tree continued.
The holly was growing skyward when the the British Crown claimed the territory. It was thriving when the original colonies decided to become a nation of its own. It was nearing its 100th birthday when the thing known as the U.S. Constitution was ratified by the state in 1787.
Out on the ocean, past the barrier island where Ocean City is located, sailed square-riggers, steam-driven ships and, finally, powerful vessels.
“I was growing in peace on this piece of land, I believe I was about 262 years old in the early 1950s, when humans came around, looking, I think you call it surveying. They talked about putting some trail down here, but I was sick to the roots when I overheard them saying they were going to have to cut me down so that trail would let more humans head down to the southern shore here,” said the tree.
I thought I saw a little sap starting to run down its bark as it told me that fact.
According to the plaque at the tree’s base, the year was 1953, and the Shoemaker Holly, named for the last family that owned the parcel of land on which it grows, was in the middle of the Garden State Parkway.
Virtuous planners granted the solemn holly a reprieve, and shifted the roadway about 120 yards to spare it from being axed.
“A lot more people used to come to visit me. That was when the humans would decorate me around your holidays. Children would sing songs around me, and they would sip hot cocoa and eat cookies. It was in your month of December.”
“Oh, yes, lots of people would glance at me when there was a bathroom over there,” said the tree, pointing to an empty place where cars can park. “A lot would slam on their brakes and run into those bathrooms,” added the tree. “Now, it’s just me, those picnic tables and some of those younger holly trees.”
“I hear some children will be planting new trees today. That makes my heartwood race, makes my leaves shimmer. Thanks for stopping to talk, no one’s ever done that in over 325 years.”
That’s what the tree said. Stand tall. Honor a tree. It’s Arbor Day.