History of Peavy Arboretum

"An Arboretum for the School of Forestry - an outdoor laboratory in which experiments with various tree species and silvicultural practices could be conducted and a "botanical garden" of trees - has been long dreamed of and planned for by the faculty and students of the school. Definite action toward the realization of this dream is one of the most noteworthy of the achievements of the year." (The Forest Club, 1924)

This statement was prompted by the work of the Arboretum Committee, which was appointed by Dean George Peavy to raise money for the acquisition of land to use in the School's educational program. Peavy Arboretum was dedicated in January 1926 and named for Dean Peavy, long-time dean of the School (now College) of Forestry. It was intended to become a "locus of the Schools educational and social activities."

In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established Camp Arboretum under the Vancouver Barracks. The camp operated from 1933 to 1942. At one point, the camp consisted of 39 permanent buildings in the Arboretum. The CCC's key role in western Oregon was fire prevention work and reforestation. The CCC contribution to McDonald Forest and the Arboretum significantly affected the landscape of the present forest. They expanded the nursery, and constructed Cronemiller Lake to provide water for irrigation.The crews built roads, planted trees, constructed firebreaks, strung telephone lines and built trails, including the Section 36 Trail, which is enjoyed by recreationists today.

Management of the nursery and the Arboretum were taken over by the College of Forestry in 1964.

One of the more cherished buildings in the Arboretum is the Forestry Club Cabin. Constructed with student labor, the first Forestry Club meeting was held there December 2, 1925. In February 1949, that cabin burned to the ground after a fraternity dance. Another student crew, led by Marvin Rowley, quickly rebuilt the cabin on the same site. This is the building that stands today.