‘Charlie’s Tree’ is finally getting its due – although assistance from the City of Surrey would really make it fully accessible to the public.
The original tree, which came to public attention in the early 1960s, no longer stands. A replacement tree has been planted. The story behind them is both heartwarming, and also a solemn reminder of the toll that war takes.
A century ago, Charlie Perkins, whose family settled in Port Kells, went off to what was known as ‘The Great War’ and came back determined not to forget the young men who gave their lives in that conflict, now known as the First World War.
In 1919, he planted ivy at the base of a Douglas fir on his property. He did so in their memory, and maintained it as a quiet place of remembrance.
It remained that way for more than 40 years, until the province made plans for a freeway through the Fraser Valley. Phil Gaglardi, minister of highways, wanted it to be arrow straight – and that meant that Charlie’s Tree had to come down.
Gaglardi, legendary for getting things done, met his match in Perkins, who in a quiet but determined way let it be known that the tree needed to stay. Considerable public attention caused the minister to back down. The highway was built with a slight curve to accommodate the tree, a curve that remains today with a much-wider freeway.
Unfortunately, it was no longer a quiet spot, nor was it accessible by trail from the Perkins home at 184 Street and 96 Avenue, north of the freeway.
The proximity to the freeway led to vandalism and arson, and the tree was topped many years ago. In 2016, it rotted out completely and fell. The ivy had hastened its demise, but the proximity to the thousands of people going by every day didn’t help.
The place of remembrance could have disappeared completely, but it didn’t. For 10 years, Dave Manson, a retired Langley truck driver, has been maintaining the site – cutting grass, trimming encroaching growth and keeping it tidy.
Before the tree fell, it also attracted the attention of the Friends of Old Canada Society, which helps bring attention to lesser-known places of historical significance. In October, they levelled the ground, made space for a memorial plaque and flagpole and planted a young Douglas fir to replace ‘Charlie’s Tree.’
Visitors will eventually be able to use their cellphones to access a QR code which will give the complete history of ‘Charlie’s Tree.’
The plaque notes that Perkins had originally planted ivy in memory of his comrades from the Royal Flying Corps. He served as a trainer for young pilots who went overseas to take part in aerial warfare, which was in its infancy. Many of them did not come back.
Given the historical significance of the site, and the difficulty in getting to it, it would be nice if the city could find some way to build a trail to the memorial site, perhaps off 184 Street, in order to help the public understand why Perkins’ efforts 100 years ago are still important today.
Frank Bucholtz writes Wednesdays for Peace Arch News.
frank.bucholtz@gmail.com