1820 or 1830: |
Farmhouse and barn built. |
1900, August 20: |
Fred Lape born in Holland Patent, NY, to Herman and Emma Lape. |
1902: |
Family moved to Esperance, Oak Nose Farm purchased in 1903. |
1913: |
Fred Lape goes to Altamont High School. Family moves to village to shorten his commute. Farm now rented out. |
1921: |
Fred Lape earns degree in English at Cornell University. |
1923: |
Fred Lape begins teaching at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. |
1928: |
Fred returns to the now-vacant Oak Nose Farm |
1930s: |
Fred attracts artist and writer crowd and oversees reforestation of western boundary. |
1937: |
Fred Lape starts a part-time teaching position at RPI. Friendship with Harriet Peck and George Landis begins. |
1938: |
Herman Lape dies in typhoid epidemic. |
1940: |
Great White Oak and many other trees severely damaged in ice storm. |
Late 1941 or 1942: |
Fred Lape applies for conscientious objector status, consequently losing his job at RPI. He decides to farm for his livelihood: sheep, cows, chickens, vegetables. Sells butter in the village. |
1940s: |
While building and landscaping a home for George Landis, Fred and George get the idea of starting an arboretum at Oak Nose Farm. Plantings begin. |
1950, December 5: |
George Landis dies accidentally, leaving most of his estate to Fred, who quits farming and puts full time into developing an arboretum: 50 acres of trees and shrubs. Fred begins studying taxonomy with various experts with help from Arie Kruik, a horticulturist who works two seasons at the Arboretum with his wife, painter Cock van Gent. |
1951: |
Arboretum named for George Landis, the "friend who had made it all possible both in life and in death." Friendship started with LeVan Loveland, banker, flower gardener, financial advisor. |
1957: |
Emma Lape dies, freeing Fred Lape to travel, spending many winters in warmer climes, mostly Mexico. Van Loveland becomes a “fixture” at the Arboretum. |
1960s and 70s: |
The halcyon days of the Arboretum. |
1966: |
Arboretum deeded to Corporation. |
1967, November 18: |
Provisional Charter granted by NYS Regents and incorporated as an educational institution to operate and maintain Arboretum. |
1967, November 29: |
IRS grants 501(c) 3 status to Arboretum. |
1970s: |
Lawns let go, gas too expensive. Lape and Loveland getting old. |
1971, October 29: |
Absolute Charter granted. |
1977: |
LeVan Loveland dies in Mexico, buried at Jocotepec. Fred Lape inherits estate of Van Loveland, but money is not enough to make up for the loss of Van’s labor. The decline of the Arboretum’s grounds, already begun, is hastened |
1982, January: |
First issue of the Arboretum’s newslett |
1982, April: |
The Great White Oak adopted as logo. |
1982, Summer: |
Fireproof library/herbarium building completed. |
1983, October: |
NYS local initiative grant for conference center construction. |
1985, March 1: |
Fred Lape dies in Mexico, buried at Jocotepec. |
1985: |
George Landis Conference Center (currently referred to as Meeting House) completed. |
1998, May: |
Fred Breglia starts as Head Horticulturist and Operations Manager. |
1998: |
Barn totally renovated including new walls, foundation. |
1998 – 1999: |
Arboretum grounds are rehabilitated – are in the best shape in many years. |
1999 – 2000: |
Planting of new trees, first time in many years. Grounds continue to improve. |
2002: |
First plantings in Ed Miller’s Native Plant Trai |
2011, April: |
Fred Breglia becomes Director. |
2011, August: |
Great White Oak is further damaged by Hurricane Irene, considered lifeless in spring of 2013. |
2012 – 2013: |
Meeting House renovated including new windows, flooring and deck. |
2017, Summer: |
Barn repainted. |
2017, August: |
New windows installed in Farmhouse |
2018, Spring: |
Welcome center with siding, electrical and flooring, completed. |
2018: |
Greenhouse renovations completed. |
The web version of the Fall, 2017 Newsletter (Volume 35, Number 4) has been lost. You can download a PDF version of this issue here.
Not Yet a Member of the Arboretum?
We invite you to consider joining us. You will be doing your part in ensuring the continued existence of the George Landis Arboretum, hidden gem of the Schoharie Valley. For more information, visit our website, call us at 518-875-6935, or email us at [email protected].
We invite you to consider joining us. You will be doing your part in ensuring the continued existence of the George Landis Arboretum, hidden gem of the Schoharie Valley. For more information, visit our website, call us at 518-875-6935, or email us at [email protected].
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Our Business Members, Sponsors, and Allies
We have good friends in the community that help the Arboretum in a number of ways.
Please consider patronizing our Business Members, Sponsors, and Allies!
We have good friends in the community that help the Arboretum in a number of ways.
Please consider patronizing our Business Members, Sponsors, and Allies!
THE LANDIS ARBORETUM NEWSLETTER is published quarterly for its members.
The Arboretum’s mission is to foster the appreciation of trees and other plants and their importance in our environment.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Fred Breglia; Erin Breglia; Gail Browning; Wilma Jozwiak; Lee Lattimer; Nolan Marciniec, chair; and Louise Polli
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Erin Breglia, Fred Breglia, Gail Browning, Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, Louise Polli, and Anita Sanchez
NEWSLETTER WEBSITE MANAGER
Wilma Jozwiak
PRINTER
Miller Printing and Litho, Amsterdam, NY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jim Paley, President; Wilma Jozwiak, Vice President; Nolan Marciniec, Secretary; Carolyn Edwards, Treasurer; Louise Polli, At Large; Ann Bevins; Karl Gustafson; Lee Lattimer; Jeanne Post-Sourmail; Ed Radle; and Earl Van Wormer
ARBORETUM STAFF
Fred Breglia, Executive Director; Nancy Stuebner, Office Manager; Erin Breglia, Garden Manager; Corey Haynes & Eric Roberts, Groundskeepers
We value your input. Please address correspondence to:
Newsletter Editor, Landis Arboretum, P.O. Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066.
Phone: 518-875-6935, Fax: 518-875-6394
The Arboretum’s mission is to foster the appreciation of trees and other plants and their importance in our environment.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Fred Breglia; Erin Breglia; Gail Browning; Wilma Jozwiak; Lee Lattimer; Nolan Marciniec, chair; and Louise Polli
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Erin Breglia, Fred Breglia, Gail Browning, Wilma Jozwiak, Lee Lattimer, Nolan Marciniec, Louise Polli, and Anita Sanchez
NEWSLETTER WEBSITE MANAGER
Wilma Jozwiak
PRINTER
Miller Printing and Litho, Amsterdam, NY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jim Paley, President; Wilma Jozwiak, Vice President; Nolan Marciniec, Secretary; Carolyn Edwards, Treasurer; Louise Polli, At Large; Ann Bevins; Karl Gustafson; Lee Lattimer; Jeanne Post-Sourmail; Ed Radle; and Earl Van Wormer
ARBORETUM STAFF
Fred Breglia, Executive Director; Nancy Stuebner, Office Manager; Erin Breglia, Garden Manager; Corey Haynes & Eric Roberts, Groundskeepers
We value your input. Please address correspondence to:
Newsletter Editor, Landis Arboretum, P.O. Box 186, Esperance, NY 12066.
Phone: 518-875-6935, Fax: 518-875-6394