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DEC Contact: Lori Severino (518) 402-8000 June 14, 2019
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DEC Renames State Tree Nursery to Honor Colonel William F. FoxCivil War Veteran Recognized for Critical Role in Forestry and Forest Management in New York |
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has renamed the State Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs the “Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. “Considered by many to be the ‘father’ of DEC’s Forest Rangers, Colonel William F. Fox is arguably one of the most important people in the long-storied history of New York State forest lands and forest management,” said Commissioner Seggos. “Today, DEC is recognizing Colonel Fox and celebrating his illustrious legacy by renaming the State Tree Nursey in his honor.” During its more than a century of service, the State Tree Nursery has adapted to the changing needs of forestry and land management. The trees and shrubs grown at the nursery support DEC’s goals and overall mission. DEC encourages planting trees and shrubs by providing nursery service to provide low cost, quality stock that is readily available to the public. Born William Freeman Fox on January 11, 1840, in Ballston Spa, NY, just miles from the tree nursery on Route 50, he studied engineering at Union College in Utica, NY, for three years. Fox is buried in Ballston Spa Village Cemetery. At 22, Fox joined the Army of the Potomac in 1862 as a Captain commanding "C" Company of the 107th New York Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after, he saw his first combat in at the Battle of Antietam, considered the bloodiest day in U.S. history. Fox was wounded in this battle, as well as at the Battle of Chancellorsville, where he served as a Major, and the Battle of Resaca, where he served as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was discharged from the U.S. Army on July 8, 1864. On November 1, 1885, Colonel William Fox was appointed assistant secretary of New York State's Forest Commission, which oversaw the recently created New York State Forest Preserve. Throughout his career, Fox worked to expand the Forest Preserve and was unceasing in his attempts to purchase as much land for the preserve as possible. At the time of his death on June 16, 1909, the Forest Preserve had grown to include more than 1.6 million acres of “Forever Wild” lands. In 1895, the Forest Commission and the Fish and Game Commission were consolidated as the Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission. The Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission and the Forest Preserve Board were later consolidated as the Forest, Fish and Game Commission in 1901. This commission became the Conservation Department in 1911, and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 1970. Fox was Assistant Forest Warden from 1888 to 1891 and oversaw the Fire Wardens – the predecessors of today’s Forest Rangers. When he was appointed the first Superintendent of Forests, he continued his oversight of the Fire Wardens. Unsatisfied with the program, Fox called for "forest rangers" to replace the wardens. He is credited with making New York the first state in the nation to put forest fire protection under public authority. Shortly after the Conservation Department was formed in 1911, the title, duties, and responsibilities of Forest Ranger were established. In 1898 Fox proposed that burned-over barren lands in the state be replanted. In response, New York created one of the nation’s first tree nursery and reforestation programs. The tree nursery program began in 1902 and has been an integral part of forest stewardship on public and private lands since its inception. More than 1.6 billion seedlings have been produced by New York’s tree nursery system to enhance and protect our forest resource. Established in 1911, the Colonel F. Fox Tree Nursery is the oldest state tree nursery in the country. In the decades before World War II, the nursery’s primary mission was to grow conifer seedlings for water supply protection, soil protection, and for timber plantations to ensure a steady supply of lumber. In the early 1930s the State began the reforestation system by acquiring abandoned farms. Most of this land had to be planted to protect the soil. Nursery production rose to meet the demand and peaked in 1938 at 72.8 million seedlings produced for planting just in that year. These plantings were mainly accomplished by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The tree nursery’s mission became more diverse when DEC was established in 1970. Along with traditional forest seedling production and wildlife shrubs, the tree nursery also began to produce trees and shrubs for remediation, wetland restoration, and riparian protection, with a focus on growing native species from local seed sources. |
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