Last month, we had the pleasure of dedicating two History Groves in one weekend. The Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL) hosted a ceremony on the plaza in front of their building, where the grove honors the late Becky Melton Heron, a Durham county commissioner from 1982-2011, and other DCSL founders: Howard Clement of late, Jack Preiss, John Lucas and Patricia Robertson.

We spent Saturday afternoon in Orchard Park with folks from the Morehead Hill neighborhood to celebrate the unveiling of the George and Mary Pyne History Grove, led by their son and Durham fixture, Milo Pyne and Grove stalwart Sandy Ogburn.

We took a few photos at each dedication, which you can see HERE and HERE. These newest Groves will be added to our History Groves map shortly! Special thanks to DCSL, Commissioner Wendy Jacobs, Duncan Heron, Sandy Ogburn, BIN Charitable Trust, and the many, many people who made contributions to support these history groves.

In case you’re wondering what a History Grove is, we partner with local organizations or neighborhoods to establish small groves of native trees and plants to honor individuals, families and others who played significant roles in creating our unique community. Each grove contains seating where visitors can pause and reflect, and every site has a durable marker naming the honoree. If you happen to pass by any of the History Groves, take a load off, have a seat, and give your busy mind a rest as you reflect on the contributions of these Durham citizens.