Mission and History
Mission
The Arboretum’s mission is to promote the appreciation and knowledge of horticulture and to emphasize the importance of integrating nature into people’s living, working, and recreational environments. Further, the Arboretum strives to be a model for good land stewardship by achieving greater ecological responsibility through biodiverse and sustainable practices.
The Estaugh, a Quaker-related, not-for-profit corporation, founded Medford Leas in 1971 as a residential and healthcare community which today is home to over 600 residents age 55 and older. As part of its mission, the Estaugh chose to create a community in harmony with nature. In 1981, the Estaugh Board, under the leadership of its president, Lewis W. Barton, along with Lois Forrest, then Executive Director of Medford Leas, and Paul W. Meyer, The F. Otto Haas Director of the Morris Arboretum, designated the entire acreage as an arboretum.
History
“As we celebrate the beauty of our Arboretum in April, we can only feel wonder at the vision of Lewis W. Barton, one of Medford Leas’ founders, better known as Lew — farmer, expert horticulturist and man of action. What he accomplished as a horticulturist in Medford Leas’ first decade, 1969-1979, laid the groundwork for the creation of the Arboretum and its beginnings in the following decade, 1979-1989, the period of the Early Arboretum.”
That is the opening paragraph of The Early Arboretum, an article by Beth Bogie, editor of Medford Leas Life, which appeared in the April 2012 issue of the newsletter.