Cranford History: Remembering Old Peppy on Arbor Day

CRANFORD, NJ - Each Arbor Day, communities across the country pause to recognize the value of trees. In Cranford, that tradition is rooted in the memory of one of its most storied landmarks, a towering pepperidge tree known as “Old Peppy,” whose legacy still shapes the town’s landscape and identity.The tree was believed to be the largest pepperidge, or sour gum, tree in the Northeastern United States. Former Cranford Historical Society historian Homer J. Hall noted that the tree stood along what was once the main road from Elizabeth to Westfield more than 200 years ago, when much of Cranford was timberland and open farmland. Positioned along a boundary line near early crossroads, the tree’s location likely contributed to its survival through centuries of development. Hall also wrote that the tree began growing near the site of one of Cranford’s earliest schoolhouses. Over time, it became a silent witness to the town’s transformation from farmland to a settled community.By the mid-20th century, “Old Peppy” had become a point of civic pride. The township designated the pepperidge tree as Cranford’s official tree in 1964, and the Cranford Historical Society installed a bronze marker at the site to recognize its significance.Additional historical records from Union College of Union County, New Jersey (UCNJ) describe the tree, formally identified as Nyssa sylvatica, as not only the official tree of Cranford but also of Union County. Known by several common names, including black gum and black tupelo, the species is valued for its resilience and striking seasonal color. The Cranford specimen was considered one of the finest of its kind, with some accounts citing it as among the largest in the country.After more than two centuries, however, the tree began to decline. Storm damage, age, and internal decay weakened its structure. In April 2015, the township made the decision to remove “Old Peppy” due to safety concerns, following years of discussion and expert evaluations, as documented in contemporaneous reporting.The tree’s influence extended beyond its physical presence. Seeds collected from “Old Peppy” have been used to grow new trees, some of which have been planted around Cranford and at UCNJ’s Historic Tree Grove, ensuring that its genetic legacy continues. A cross-section is housed in a gazebo at Lincoln Ave. Park and a count of the annual rings by UCNJ indicated that the tree germinated from a seed in 1788, and stood for 227 years.