On Poem’s Centennial Eve, Mahwah Starts Joyce Kilmer Commemoration

After years of arguing that Kilmer's most famous poem, "Trees," was written in Mahwah, one man's crusade to have the hometown poet honored is beginning to pay off

The day before the 100th birthday of Joyce Kilmer’s famous poem “Trees,” Mahwah is kicking off what officials say may become a year-long celebration of the poet, his life and his work. But, according to one township resident, the road to getting the township to honor one of its own has been a long one. Alex Michelini, a longtime resident and former member of the Mahwah Historical Commission, said he completed an investigation into the history of Kilmer’s famed poem in the summer of 2011. According to Michelini, no one disputes that Kilmer lived in Mahwah between 1912 and 1917. And, it’s widely accepted that he wrote “Trees” on Feb. 2, 1913. However, there is some dispute over where it was written. Places like Rutgers University and the …

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History Buff Argues 100th Anniversary Kilmer Poem Penned in Mahwah

Past Mahwah Historical Society President Alex Michelini shares why he believes Joyce Kilmer wrote his famous poem 'Trees' in Mahwah, and why township residents should care more about it