Stuyvesant Pear Tree Planting Ceremony
October 25th, 2024
In the mid-1600s, the Dutch governor of New Amsterdam, Peter Stuyvesant, had planted a pear tree on the Bowery (Dutch for ‘farm’). Unfortunately, the tree met an untimely end when a collision of two wagons on the corner resulted in one wagon fatally striking the pear tree on February 27, 1867.
In September 1890, the Holland Society placed a tablet marking the location of Peter Stuyvesant’s pear tree reading: “On this corner grew Petrus Stuyvesant’s pear tree. Recalled to Holland in 1664 on his return he brought the pear tree and planted it as his memorial by which said he “my name may be remembered.” The pear tree flourished and bore fruit for over two hundred years.”
The plaque remains there on the side of Kiehl’s at 109 Third Avenue, which is also called ‘Pear Tree Place’.
In November 2003, the city planted a new tree to commemorate the Stuyvesant pear tree that had graced the corner for nearly 200 years. Bill Van Winkle, President of the Holland Society of New York at that time, assisted with the planting and was quoted in the New York Times saying, “This pear tree is perhaps the most important symbol in the city of New York of the Dutch colonial heritage. We’re very excited about getting it back.”
After hearing about the demise of the 2003 sapling, the Holland Society reached out to the NYC Parks Tree Time program and donated for a new pear tree to be planted and a tree guard installed.
On Friday October 25th, Holland Society members, friends and guests gathered for the tree planting ceremony at Pear Tree Place in front of the Kiehl’s flagship store. Holland Society President Sally Quackenbush Mason welcomed everyone and invited Nave Strauss, NYC Parks Director of Tree Planting, to share a few words regarding the important role trees play in NYC. Manhattan Borough Historian, Dr. Rob Snyder spoke to the history of the tree and New Amsterdam. Society Secretary Jonathan Doucette planted NY400 tulip bulbs from the Park Avenue Spring display which will appear next Spring. After ceremoniously planting and watering the tree and bulbs, Executive Director Sarah Cooney thanked everyone for attending and invited guests for a reception at the Kiehl’s store to celebrate the replanting.
After cutting the celebratory cake, Kiehl’s store manager, Joshua Lau, spoke briefly about Kiehl’s long relationship with the pear tree which has become an iconic symbol of Kiehl’s, marking the location of their historic flagship.
