Cucumber Magnolia

The Cucumber Magnolia Tree located at Friendly's Restaurant is incorporated in the West Caldwell town seal. It was planted in 1888 and this rededication was a fitting way for West Caldwell to celebrate Arbor Day in the township's Centennial year. See "History of the Cucumber Magnolia Tree" below.

The Cucumber Magnolia Tree as
it Appeared in Front of the
Backus Home Many Years Ago.

The Cucumber Magnolia Tree
as It Appears Today.

Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen Makes a Presentation to West Caldwell.
(L to R) Rodney Frelinghuysen, Environmental Commission Member Mark Cohen, Mayor Joseph Tempesta, and Environmental Commission Member Joe Cecere

Erika Axe, 2nd Grade Washington School, shows off her winning art contest submission. Sitting with Erika are Mayor Joseph Tempesta (left) and Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen (right).

This plaque will be placed on a
stone at the base of the tree.

Members of the Governing Body and Environmental Commission Members.
(L to R - Councilman Bill Payne, Commission Members Joan Hamilton, Jack Kupcho, Joe Cecere, Mark Cohen, Betty Hansson (with grandchildren Shayne and Olivia) and Mayor Tempesta.

The tree was part of the landscape of the West Essex area, when West Caldwell was still part of Caldwell, and shared its rural heritage, complete with many farms and dairies. The tree stood on the property of Mr. Henry Francis Backus, who owned a dairy farm, and purchased milk from other local dairies, which he then placed in large containers, and sold in the bustling urban city of Newark, New Jersey. While on these business trips to Newark, he decided to purchase a tree, and purchased this tree in 1888 as a seedling. The tree itself was planted close to the Backus Homestead, which dated back to the early nineteenth century. The homestead itself was located close to Bloomfield Avenue, originally built as a “turnpike”, for the transport of goods, linking the urban and rural areas of Essex County together. This road, originally called “The Great Road”, was also a mail and stagecoach route. The Backus home itself also served as an inn. This tree was part of the dairy farm, as previously mentioned. The farm contained a barn, an icehouse for keeping the milk cold, and pond, which provided many youngsters with a wonderful place for ice-skating. An important feature of this property was the presence of four underground springs. One spring kept the icehouse cool, and another was located at the base of the cucumber magnolia tree, which aided in keeping it well nourished. Many local residents came to this spring in order to fill their containers with healthy, clear, cold water. Unfortunately, the dairy, icehouse, pond, and three springs’ outlet are no longer in existence. The tree, fortunately is still here, and thriving, in a climate not suited for its type. Speaking of meteorological condition, the seedling witnessed the Great Blizzard of 1888. The tree still witnesses much traffic on Bloomfield Avenue, through this section of Essex County and then to Pine Brook and Morris County. The importance of the tree to local history and residents was demonstrated in the 1930’s, when Bloomfield Avenue was widened, and the road was configured in order to save the tree.

The tree stood on the fringe of a developing, small, thriving business section known as the village of Franklin. Businesses included a logging concern, a tobacco factory, a coach lace ‘cottage industry’ and a general store known as “The Brick Store”. The general store also served as a post office, discussion center, and the first municipal chambers, of West Caldwell. The first library and school in West Caldwell were also located in this vicinity.

The tree’s owner and planter, Henry Backus, was deeply involved in politics, serving as an Essex County Official, a state Assemblyman, and serving on a committee to elect Woodrow Wilson as President. Mr. Backus presented a speech nominating Wilson as his party’s candidate. Due to Mr. Backus’ political commitments, many important guests visited his home, and saw this magnificent tree in its youth. The tree witnessed the birth of West Caldwell, with villages of Franklin and Westville joining together to form this township in 1904. The municipal seal contains the cucumber magnolia tree, which is a proud symbol of West Caldwell. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, and into the next century this area became known as a health spa, and one of the healthiest places in America. People were drawn to its rural atmosphere, quietness, and mountain air. Two local hotels, the Mohomonock Inn and the Grover House accommodated many guests; these are no longer in existence. Residents were drawn to the Sunnyfield Pool, and golf course, not far from the tree. Both are now past history.

Residents celebrated the end of World War I with a parade, which passed by the tree, as well as many impromptu celebrations marking the end of World War II. Today, all Memorial Day parades pass by the tree, with many residents watching the festivities from beneath its branches and welcome shade. The Backus Homestead was demolished in the late 1960’s. The Friendly Ice Cream Corporation expressed an interest in purchasing the property in 1966. The tree’s fate was of deep concern to residents and officials of the Caldwells. Petitions were signed asking Friendly’s to save the tree. The Environmental Beautification Committee of West Caldwell, The Caldwell and Essex Fells Garden Clubs as well as the Caldwell Woman’s Club and the City’s forester were involved in these preservation efforts. Then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson was asked for her support. A happy conclusion was reached when Friendly’s agreed to work around the tree, incorporate it as part of its landscape plan, and arrange for its care and maintenance. The tree has been part of Friendly’s property, at 632 Bloomfield Avenue since 1968. At that time, a plaque was placed on a rock at the tree’s base dedicated to the Backus family on whose property the tree was planted and nurtured. Statistically, the tree was impressive, even in the 1960’s. In 1968, Rutgers University measured the circumference of the tree at 15 feet, 11 inches. The diameter’s spread in 1967, as measured by the American Forest Association, was 86 feet, 8 inches and its height was 60 feet. It was the oldest known cucumber tree in the state of New Jersey, and not supposed to thrive north of Georgia!