By Marcia Parnell
A long-cherished and often-photographed sugar-maple tree which sat in front of the Becket Congregational Church finally had to come down. Efforts to keep it alive by pruning its dead branches failed, and the maple, located on town property, was removed earlier this summer.
Determined to bring new life to the setting, Yoked Parish members are working to raise $2,000 to purchase and install a new large sugar maple (they have already raised $500). The new tree will be planted in the same area but further away from the road to ensure winter highway salt can’t harm it.
According to Historical Commission and church member Rita Furlong, the land is part of the Town’s original parade ground, where locals gathered and practiced in the days leading up to the Revolutionary War. And over the years, many young people — Sunday school kids and local camp counselors — couldn’t resist the chance to climb the great maple. Says Furlong, “While it will be years before anyone can climb a new tree, we’d love to see it happen again in the future and you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Readers who would like to contribute towards a new sugar maple are asked to send a check to the Congregational Church Tree Fund, PO Box 327, Becket, MA 01223. The hope is to have enough funds to plant a replacement sometime this fall.
