Historical Name: Cranford
Common Name: Pepperidge Tree
Latin Name: Nyssa sylvatica
The Cranford Pepperidge Tree once grew in a park on Lincoln Avenue West near the corner of Benjamin Street. It was the official tree of both Cranford and Union County. Affectionately known as 鈥淥ld Peppy,鈥� it was probably the largest tree of its kind in the northeast United States, and had been cited as one of the finest specimens of its kind in the world. Cranford has grown some trees of historic significance, with a connection to 鈥淥ld Peppy鈥檚鈥� location. It grew on what was an estate that is said to have supplied lumber to refurbish 鈥淥ld Ironsides,鈥� the U.S.S. Constitution, in 1812. The name Pepperidge Tree is just one of several common names for the species Nyssa sylvatica. The species is more frequently known as Black Gum or Sour Gum or Black Tupelo in other regions of our country. The well known Pepperidge Farm Bakery, however, is named for the two large members of this species growing on the Connecticut estate of its founder.
A tree grown from a seed collected from The Cranford Pepperidge Tree was planted into UCNJ鈥檚 Historic Tree Grove in 2005. Several other offspring were given to Cranford, and have been planted at several locations around the town. In the early 2000鈥檚 storms, old age, and decay seriously damaged and weakened 鈥淥ld Peppy鈥�. In April 2015 Cranford removed the tree, due to safety concerns. Many local residents miss the tree, but can take solace knowing that it is still locally represented by the next generation.
A cross-section of 鈥淥ld Peppy鈥檚鈥� trunk, cut near ground level, was given to UCNJ in 2015. A count of the annual rings indicated that the tree germinated from a seed in 1788, and stood for 227 years. 鈥淥ld Peppy鈥� did not actually die in 2015. Since it was cut down, numerous shoots have sprouted from the still living root system. A research project is currently underway to encourage those shoots to develop their own root systems, so they can be transplanted to suitable locations. If successful, 鈥淥ld Peppy鈥� would be cloned, with genetically identical offspring continuing the tree鈥檚 legacy.