Boy’s sapling becomes city’s star
Max family’s beautiful blue spruce takes center stage at Riverwalk Park
By Darrell Halen
MethuenLife Writer
When he was in fifth grade nearly 25 years ago, Peter Max received a small tree in observation of Arbor Day to take home and plant in the ground.
The blue spruce sapling was so small at the time — a "stick with a couple of greens," Peter recalled — that he was able to carry it home on the school bus.
That little tree grew over the years to stand about 40 feet tall and was donated by the Max family to serve as the city's 2009 holiday tree at Riverwalk Park on Osgood Street.
"It was nice to see it on display so everyone could enjoy it," said Peter, 34, who attended the city's tree-lighting ceremony with his family last month to watch it get lit up.
Peter was a student at Methuen East Middle School, now known as the Timony School, when he brought home the tree. He planted it between the driveway and a shed at his parents’ Milk Street home. His father, Herman, suggested the spot.
"It had plenty of room to grow and the natural water of Mother Nature," said Peter's mother, Alice.
But it grew to be so large that it provided too much shade over the shed that is now used by Peter's sister, Erica, as an art studio.
"It grew a little bit at a time. Before you knew it, it was towering over the building next to it," recalled Peter.
Alice contacted the city and offered to donate it as a holiday tree. After it was moved to the park, city parks division workers decorated it with lights and a star.
Their contribution made the family proud. Peter told friends who drove by it that he donated the tree. His cousin, Courtney Medina, told her patrons at Elan Hair Studio on Osgood Street that it was her cousin who gave it to the city.
"I wanted it to stay in Methuen so Methuen residents would enjoy it," said Alice. "(I was) sad to see it cut down but it looked beautiful. It looked so much bigger than when it was in our yard. Everyone got to enjoy it."
Peter, who was about 11 at the time he received the tree, is a 1993 Methuen High School graduate. He is a mechanical engineer, educated at UMASS-Lowell, who has worked in the electronics industry.
When residents offer to donate a tree from their property to the city for the holiday, city workers first drive out and inspect it to make sure taking it is feasible.
Peter's tree was cut and moved in late November by city workers assisted by Northeast Crane and Rigging, which donated its help.
"They were able to take it down without a lot of effort," said Peter, who captured images of the job on his cell phone.
According to Department of Public Works Director Ray DiFiore, donated trees should be straight and symmetrical, ideally at least 25 feet tall, accessible to be cut and moved, and appealing to the eye when decorated.
"We've lucked out," said City Hall employee Jill Stackelin. "We've had some beautiful ones (donated) the past couple of years."
