by Bea Peterson
Doug Goodermote and his sister Elizabeth Reynolds have lived in houses at the end of Echo Park in Berlin for more than 50 years. They have seen many changes in the landscape during that time. Particularly the loss of the maple trees that once lined the length of the street. “There was always big maples here and around,” said Goodermote last week. He believes they were planted by Frank Lewis about a hundred years ago. [private]Though there are a few big trees remaining on the street, many of them are gone. “It was a pretty street at one time.” Goodermote wanted it to be a pretty street once again.
On the Echo Park side of Park Street only a couple of maple trees remain, one at either end. The rest of the Park on that side was bare. So, on September 27, Doug had six linden trees planted by Elhannon Tree Nursery in Petersburgh. The trees, he said, were planted in memory of his late wife Betty (Reynolds) Goodermote and his late brother-in-law Bill Reynolds. “I wanted something different,” he said, choosing the linden instead of maple. These large deciduous trees will reach 66 to 130 feet tall when they mature. Goodermote, who will be 94 on Halloween, doesn’t expect to see them reach that height. He’s just happy to leave something for the future.
Goodermote is following in his father, Carpenter Art’s, footsteps. “My father planted a tree on his birthday, April 18, for years,” said Goodermote.
Kent Goodermote and his cousin, the late Penny Reynolds, were raised in the houses at the top of the street. The Park was their playground. It’s a nice quiet street, a lovely place to live. Now, once more, graceful trees line the edge of the Park.
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