A plaque explaining the history of a bald cypress tree has been erected on the west lawn of Mentone Elementary School.

On Monday, September 11, Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation board members, the president of the Mentone Alumni, and a local historian gathered for a photo in front of the new plaque.

The plaque reads:

“The story of the Bald Cypress tree goes back to World War II. Dale Kelley was, at that time, principal of the Mentone High School. He often would travel to Florida. The story goes that he brought home with him a start of the Bald Cypress that is now in the west lawn of the Mentone School. A Mr. Pat Harrison, the agriculture teacher, planted it. It was believed to have taken place in the early 1940’s. This would make it around 75 years old.

The tree is not usually found in the Northern Indiana climate, as it is native to the sunny south. Even so, it has flourished and grown to be a large tree.

The tree is known as one of the very few Bald Cypress to exist this far north in the state of Indiana as well as probably the oldest one.

The Mentone High School Alumni have placed this plaque with this information.

Information presented by:
Lee Markley, Pres. Mentone Alumni
Tim Croy, Mentone Town Board
Linda Cochran, Historian”

PHOTO: Back row from left to right are Brett Boggs, TVSC superintendent, Adam Heckaman, board of trustees secretary, Blaine Conley, TVSC assistant superintendent, Todd Hoffman, board of trustees president, Stan Miller, board of trustees vice president, Aaron Zolman, board member, Bryan Murphy, board member, and Randy Dahms, Mentone Elementary principal.Standing to the left of the sign in the front row is Linda Cochran, a local historian, and on the right is Lee Markley, president of the Mentone Alumni.