Bretzfelder Memorial Park
Charles (center) and Rosalie (on his left) Bretzfelder and his friends gathered at the Memorial Tree in 1936.
Educational program with Kim Pearson by Bretzfelder Memorial tree.
Winter mushroom walk
Firewood cut at the Park
In the early 19th century, a white pine sprouted in a pasture on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Forty summers later, after the sheep farmers had moved on, the tree towered over the abandoned field. Fifty years later, city folks seeking relief from hay fever discovered Bethlehem. Many of them walked down the country lane that led past the tree to spread a picnic lunch beneath its branches. By the 1920's, the tree was well-known for its tremendous size and appearance.
Charles Bretzfelder, a New York lawyer who summered in the White Mountains for many years, purchased the giant white pine and its surrounding acreage in 1920. Bretzfelder built a summer cottage and enjoyed the natural world, taking long walks in the crisp air, and swimming in the cold mountain brook.
Bretzfelder often paused in his daily walks to nap under the towering pine. When a near by tree crashed into the pine, he called in tree surgeons to have them patch the tree's wounds, remove dead branches, install retaining bars, and fix a cable to an overhanging branch. The patient emerged undaunted and continued to soar above its younger neighbors.
Upon his death in 1943, the Bretzfelder family fulfilled Charles' wish that he join the pine in its treasured grove. In a simple ceremony, his ashes were scattered about the base of the tree and a memorial plaque was unveiled: "May his wisdom and light forever shine upon this earth."
Although untrue, legends still exist with locals that Bretzfelder is buried within the tree. The noble tree was continued to be cared for by local "keepers of the tree," hired by the family.
In 1979, Bretzfelder's daughter, Helen, bequeathed the tree and its 17 surrounding acres to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests as a memorial park. The Society takes seriously its role as the new keeper of the tree, and maintains the park as a community resource. The park, which has grown to 77 acres, will be forever protected, even when the original tree no longer stands.
Programs are held at the park in August and February. See The Rocks calendar for details.
Directions to Bretzfelder Park
From 93 (from both directions) exit 40. Follow Route 302 East for 3 miles, take a left on Prospect street. Bretzfelder Park is located approximately one mile on the left.