30
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
July/August 2018
FROM THE ARCHIVES
3 TREES HAVE HELD VIGIL AT JOHN DAVEY'S GRAVE
A grand and beautiful white oak tree
towers over the grave of the Father
of Tree Surgery.
You might be surprised to learn that
majestic tree is one of three to have
been planted at the final resting place
of John Davey, our company founder.
Davey died in November 1923 at the
age of 77. Shortly after, several Davey
Tree employees who knew Davey
and worked with him over the years
arranged to plant a small white oak
tree on his burial lot.
D.Q. Grove, a long-time Davey
employee, wrote a letter to Paul Davey
and Martin L. Davey, Sr., in 1930
(published in the Bulletin) explaining
how this first tree became just one of
three that stood at their father's grave.
"This tree was given every care, but
it failed to survive the struggle, so
another oak was planted in its place,"
Grove wrote. "The second tree is living
but it is so small it cannot be expected
to grow into a sizeable tree during
the lifetime of those of us who knew,
lived with, or worked with your father."
Grove and his compatriots located
another white oak tree near Kent
with a diameter of 8 inches that they
determined would make a more
fitting memorial. The third tree was
transplanted in 1930 to commemorate
the company's golden anniversary.
"It is meant as an expression of our
appreciation of the fine relations we
have enjoyed with you and M.L. in
carrying on the work of the Davey
organization, which has grown in
50 years from an idea in the mind
of Father John to an organization of
a thousand field men," Grove wrote.
In his response, Martin L. Davey, Sr.,
called the gesture "one of the
sweetest things that has been done
in the history" of the Davey Company.
"John Davey belongs to this whole
organization and not to his family
alone," Martin L. Davey, Sr., wrote.
"In a broader sense John Davey
belongs to the world. Not only did
he give us a great opportunity in an
interesting and profitable profession,
but he gave the world a great new
idea and philosophy."
The tree, and John Davey's grave,
are visited often by Davey employees
and make for a great pilgrimage for
anyone who appreciates the science
of tree care.
