This Day in History: 1935-08-16
A spate of articles in metropolitan newspapers about where Joyce Kilmer’s famous poem “Trees” was written was the occasion for the presentation to the local American Legion Post of a letter from the poet’s wife stating that it had been written in Mahwah. The letter had been written to Major Charles E. Ellis, a neighbor of the poet-soldier when he lived in Mahwah, several years earlier. The letter stated that Mrs. Kilmer knew that it was in Mahwah that her husband had written the famous poem. The letter was presented by Major Ellis to the Post’s historian Edward G. Schneider for inclusion among the Post’s historical archives. This news was particularly pleasing to James Devine, the Chairman of the Township Committee, long an admirer of Kilmer’s poetry and to then current resident of the former Kilmer House in Airmount Road, Magnus Hellstrom, a retired mechanical engineer. (Bristow)