A Japanese maple tree has made its way to Harlem.
In honor of Arbor Day on Friday, April 28, the city planted the tree in front of the Harlem Civic Center and dedicated it to Sue Whiddon, a former Harlem resident and teacher. Whiddon lived to be 110 years old and was very involved in the city, said Jeanne Turner, who knew Whiddon.
“She taught history and government that I know about,” Turner said. “I had her for both of those classes. She was a very strong teacher, she had a very strong personality, so Sue was one of those people you either loved her or you didn’t love her. Most people loved her, they really did. She did so much for Harlem High School, and she did so much for Harlem. During the war, World War II, she was an air raid warden, and we had an air raid siren up there on one of those buildings down there and that was her job, she was the air raid warden. “
Whiddon helped start the Pioneer Garden Club and was the first president, Turner said. Whiddon was also part of the group involved in bringing the first library in the county.
“She was part of the group that instigated the first library, which was the only library in Columbia County until the one that was built on Belair Road across from Belair (Elementary),” Turner said. “…she was responsible for all of that.”
Harlem Mayor Roxanne Whitaker remembered Whiddon as being “very instrumental in beautifying Harlem.”
“Her character just right up until the time that she was not able to get out was impeccable,” Whitaker said. “She was a lady, she was a Christian lady, and her love for Harlem was just in everything that she would say and do…Mrs. Whiddon is severely lost, just her wisdom and her spunk.”
The Japanese maple took the place of a dogwood tree that was previously in that spot, said Robert Fields, the Harlem public works director. He added that dogwood trees are temperamental and they hadn’t been hearing good things from dogwood nurseries, so the decision was made to plant a Japanese maple.
Harlem is a member of Tree City USA and has been for at many years, Fields said. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree City USA started in 1976 as part of the founders vision for a healthier and greener American.
“The first Tree City USA cohort was comprised of 42 communities in 16 states,” according to the Arbor Day Foundation website. “Today, the program includes more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.”
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
