A Tree Named Liberty (Volume 3)

 

Over the Back Fence

 A Tree Named Liberty

By

Vicki L Bishop

(#3) 

It may be hard to picture now, but once upon a memory Dixon had a master gardener named Al Lafon. 

The Lafon’s lived in a house near the corner of Redbud and Ellen.  They owned several acres that are now parceled off and improved with at least two other houses.  I remember Al telling me that he had owned even more but he had sold it because it was too much to take care of.

The landscaping and flowers on this site were beautiful—and there were acres of them!  I know it seems hard now to believe it, but his gardening skills rivaled those professional landscapers that you see in the city.  Although we have had a few residents that were great at landscaping, Al Lafon really took it to another level.   I have never been able to find a photo of his garden area, but I would love for present day residents to see what he accomplished.  It was truly miraculous; some might say Biblical in scope.

I only lived about half a block away, so he and I had struck up a friendship when I was a little girl.  I remember going over to his house several times on warm summer afternoons and sitting in the breezeway with him listening to his stories and enjoying some ice water.  He was like another grandpa to me.  I remember how he would take an apple and with his pocketknife he would peel it in one long spiral.   He never messed it up, the spirals were always perfect.

On what is now the lot to the rear from his house is improved with a brick home.  In the front yard of that brick home stood a large oak tree that was over 250 years old.  Before the Lafon’s moved from their house, Al received an award for that tree, and the tree was declared: The Liberty Tree.  

In and around 1976, there was a special commission set up to identify such trees around the United States that had survived since 1776.   This means that it was believed that the respective Liberty Trees had survived since the Revolutionary War.  

Pause for a moment and reflect on that--a tree that was alive during the Revolutionary War. 

Think about all the history that tree witnessed.  All the tornados, ice storms, development, Native Americans, the Civil War, and generations of children.  Think of all the conversations held beneath its branches, all the birds who called it home.  The Liberty Tree was a living witness to history as it quietly stood watching time pass by.   A witness to the birth and ongoing life of Dixon, Missouri.

Al Lafon was very proud of his Liberty Tree.  It really did seem fitting that a master gardener like himself should have his beautiful garden improved with the biggest and best tree around—and an award to go with it.

Al volunteered each year when I was a child to play Santa.  Back then, Dixon’s big annual parade was the Christmas parade.  It seems hard now to believe, but the streets were absolutely packed with cars and people. No matter how cold it was, the Christmas parade always had a good turnout.  The highlight of the parade was always Santa’s float. 

As a child I recognized that he was a special person, and I always just loved to sit and talk with him.   He tried to teach me about gardening, but I was a little young for it.  He would walk with me in the front part of the garden and point out the different flora.  He knew everything about every plant, bush, tree, or flower and it seemed he never struggled to grow anything. 

The garden was perfect.

Al Lafon passed away in 1979, just 3 short years after the Bicentennial. As for the Liberty Tree, it lived on a few more years until the 80s or 90s when it had to be cut down due to disease.  I think that tree just missed Al.

When he died, I remember crying.  I barely knew his wife, I didn’t know any of his other family members, but to me, he was family.   The house they lived in still stands, but the parcel of land has been divided once or twice more since his death.

From the street I no longer see any evidence of his plantings.   I am sure there are a few starts here or there that probably still volunteer, but the garden is now just a memory.

From “The Dixon Pilot”, Thursday, June 24, 1976:

Mr. Al Lafon of Dixon has been notified by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri State Bicentennial Committee that the majestic white oak tree in his yard has been recognized as an official Liberty Tree.

The tree is over 250 years old with a circumference of 12 foot, 5 inches, and a spread of 95 to 100 feet.  It stands proud and stately among several other beautiful trees in the lovely park-like setting of the Lafon lawn.

Mr. Lafon and his wife, Letha, are well known and respected in the Dixon Community.  Mr. Lafon’s slogan “Be nice to people” is exemplified in his deeds and love for the community.  Since 1959, he has been known fondly in the local area as “Santa Claus.”

In addition to the recognition, he received from the State Bicentennial Committee and the Department of Conservation, Mr. Lafon received a beautiful certificate signed from Governor Christopher Bond. 

 

A plaque that was awarded for a Liberty Tree in Missouri in 1976.