Retired Sewickley arborist Edson's legacy will live on through new bur oak tree

Sewickley officials have ensured the legacy of retired borough arborist Jim Edson will last for centuries to come.

Current and former members of the Shade Tree Commission, as well as other elected leaders and administrators, took part in a special tree-planting ceremony in Edson’s honor earlier this month.

A bur oak tree was installed in the heart of Park Place, a small park Edson helped establish in 1982.

Burlton Griffith, who took over as Sewickley’s arborist last year after Edson retired, led the planting effort.

“What Jim wanted was a majestic, large-format shade tree,” Griffith said. “Oaks are widely recognized as being a culturally important, long-lived strong tree. He wanted it to be in the white oak group. They’re more resistant to a disease that kills oak trees.”

The bur oak chosen was close to 15 years old and stands 12 feet tall with a 2-inch trunk.

Griffith said it could grow as much as 60 to 80 feet with a six-foot trunk and live as long as 500 years.

“They’re very fond of calcium-rich soil,” he said. “That’s very important because we’re growing this tree in concrete rubble from an old roadbed. Very few plants are tolerant of that kind of soil, and bur oaks love it.”

Edson, 68, moved from the borough with his wife, Linda, to Tetonia, Idaho.

He was unable to attend the ceremony but did see pictures of the tree.

“I was involved with the tree selection,” Edson said. “I’m very happy. It’s a very noble tree, and it stands up to soils that aren’t the best. I think it ought to do very well there.

“Park Place is very special to me. A lot of the things that were planted there, I planted physically. Back in those days, I was still digging holes and all that stuff. I was really happy there was a place for a tree there for me.”

Edson grew up in Sewickley and developed a love of nature.

He became a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Edson was one of the original nonvoting members of the Tree Commission established in 1995, which evolved into what is now known as Sewickley’s Shade Tree Commission.

He was instrumental in planting about 2,000 trees in the borough.

“I love the feeling of having the trees around and the shade and benefits they give to the community,” Edson said. “I’ve always been drawn to trees and shrubs. Sewickley council always supported tree planting and tree care. It’s not typical to many communities.

“What I really appreciated always was the sense of community, and people really had each other’s back. It was a small enough town where you felt like you knew two-thirds of the people. People were friendly, and it was a great place to grow up. I’m very honored that Sewickley has done this. I just feel lucky I was able to work there throughout my career, and now I’m lucky to be where I am. It’s awesome.”

Shade Tree Commission secretary Andrew Frishkorn said planting a tree is a fitting honor for Edson.

“I think Jim deserves the honor of having a tree after all he did helping Sewickley out,” Frishkorn said. “He was very knowledgeable and he was good with working with people in the community, a good communicator. An oak is a good memorial tree because it lasts a long time, and it’s in a great location right at the entrance to Sewickley.

Councilman Larry Rice read a proclamation honoring Edson at the planting.

A ceremonial plaque is expected to be installed in the park between Ohio River Boulevard and Bank Street sometime this year.