SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Residents and friends of the city gathered at Historic Blakeley State Park yesterday morning for a tree-planting ceremony to celebrate Baldwin County’s Bicentennial and the Year of Alabama History, both celebrated in 2009.

Many trees at Blakeley had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and some over the years have been damaged by drought.

To ensure there will be beautiful oak trees at Blakeley for years to come, the Auburn Extension Service—part of a FEMA restoration project—donated 24 two-year-old, 5-foot oak trees to the park.

Area dignitaries were invited to plant the trees in key locations throughout the park.

Lew Toulmin, of Fairhope, planted the Jury Oak tree at Blakeley. Toulmin’s late relative, Judge Harry Toulmin, was a judge at the courthouse at Blakeley.

“It means a tremendous amount to commemorate 200 years of Baldwin County and honor my great, great, great, great grandfather,” Toulmin said. “It reminds us all we need to protect our freedoms and make sure our juristic system continues with the same fairness and judgment (Judge Toulmin) felt and used ….”

Wayne Gruenloh, Baldwin County Commissioner for District 3, was also present to plant a tree.

Gruenloh planted the Courthouse Tree, which stands before the old Courthouse tree that died many years ago, and the site of the old courthouse.

“Just continuing the legacy of the park future generations,” Gruenloh of the tree planting. “It’s an amazing thing.

“It’s also a wonderful time for Baldwin County. It’s only fitting we do this during our bicentennial year.”

Jan. 14 was selected because it was this day in 1814 that Josiah Blakeley chartered the town of Blakeley for the first time, making it the oldest town in Baldwin County, according to event organizers.

Many trees around Blakeley are believed to be about 400 years old, and like all living things, must come to an end sometime.

Also, many trees don’t show damages from hurricanes immediately, it can take years before the effects are clear, park director Jo Ann Flirt said.

The trees were planted in Washington Square at Blakeley, where many other trees offer their beauty to the area.

In Washington Square there are bigleaf magnolias; beachwoods; laurel oaks, sparkleberries; water oaks; slash pines: American red cedars, among others, Thomas Harms, a biologist at Blakeley Park, said.

About 17 new trees were planted in Washington Square, according to Harms.

“It’s a good time to plant trees right now,” he said. “The first year with new trees is usually the one to watch.”

Harms said the park will have to keep the new oaks watered and fertilized for the first year, but after that they should be good on their own.