Petersham High School - Hilltop Yearbook (Petersham, MA)

Page 17 text:

THE HILLTOP . , . . .......--,......1---.-......... .....-.-.... H...-..........1. ...-... -..i-................ .-.............. -..-.... ... ... -- .. boundaries the extensive Harvard Forest and other spreading woodlots, would our town be called the most beautiful town in Vassachusetts? No, it would notl Away back in the nineteenth century in a small F town in Arkansas, a young man by the name of J. 1 Sterling Morton saw clearly that communities, cities, and states could be made more beautiful if people ' would only become tree conscious. So he conceived 1. the idea that one day a year should be set aside we fl 4 . for planting trees, and gradually people would take egg great pride in their beautiful communities. Thus ef Arbor Day was established. On April 22, 1872, one Hy? f million trees were planted. Since then many states , have declared this date a legal holiday and have Aj observed it by planting trees. Schools usually ii? have appropriate exercises with recitations and 'K' songs, and plant trees and shrubbery around the tg school grounds. 132116 first tree society to be formed after the :gag establishment of Arbor Day was the Federal Forest .'gg Nursery in l902. The members desired to improve the beauty of all states and to show the country ' 32 the need of trees for shelter, food, and protection. 'QQ Tree-planting associations have been organized all rgqg over the country for people who love nature and .A fit enjoy beautiful surroundings. Children have ea- lgyg gerly joined these societies and have been as en- ,Fha thusiastic as their parents over the results of th' Q 553' work. C gfkii ' ?'QQ 'Jhen next April 22 comes along, renew your ff X pride in your towns trees, and think of J. Ster- 1Qag5 ling Morton, who conceived the idea .of Arbor Day X439 as one means of beautifying your community. JFKJS, Q Elsie H. Buell, v8.3 fsQ,2 ,Q I T H W. 1 I'

Page 19 text:

TH .E HILLTOP FIRE PI4..EVE.N 'HON IN THE. FOIQES What would the town, the state, the country, or even the world do without trees? Why, life would be practically impossible without them, for they furnish the lumber for the thousands of homes. The wood from these trees provides many of these homes with heat, as even coal is formed from trees. Trees are the home for the wild animals and serve as a colorful background for all the universe. Life would be desolate without trees. A new bill has been brought up before the state legislature for radio equipment to be used in combating forest fires. This, undoubtedly, is a good plan, because it will make the fighting of forest fires easier. Already fire towers, air- planes, and numerous other aids have been added to the fighting of this deadly menace to the forests. All these aids have been bought at great expense to the town, county, and federal governments. Forest rangers, some on foot and some on horse- back, scout through the forests frequently to look for smoldering leaves or fires which have been carelessly left by campers. There are hundreds of forest fires annually which destroy acres of heavily wooded areas. Just the sight of a charred woodlot is a grim reminder of the loss, which runs into thousands of dollars. Sometimes nfirebugsn set disastrous fires for no reason at all. It seems that people would realize all the benefits of and the actual necessity for trees, but no. They say, Wwe don't start fires. Why, e and inconsiderately drop matches or cigarette ' wherever they may be, in the forest or on the e 'r ll Z 'I 'A f' are not careless.n Yet these people unconscio slyg t's 1.1 I5 VF if . I t w E illa D .?, li g. ' .,'x ' -- 5 . 'T' '. f - L ax 'ii Q --2 wit? 41, gn. 1 QA F N ,its-,ZQQK 2155.12-Z! 1 W Wil w nl N f im-.. A., . Iraq' A xiii' x Q 25331: :I-151 X Lf 1 ,,. ', ht W -J I ..l'f f.. , ,L ..1 It would take very little more effort to snuf , X-l.ff'! the match than to let it lie threateningly. CX 2 ,Q