By Kevin Coughlin
Glenn Coutts Sr. attended the George Washington Elementary School. His business is on Washington Street. He lives in Washington Valley.
So when the Trustees of the Morristown Green wanted to recognize Coutts for serving almost four decades as their president, they knew who had to do the honors.
George Washington.
The General was accompanied to the Green on Sunday by Col. Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette (portrayed with panache by actors from the American Historical Theatre) to celebrate the Trustees’ bicentennial.
Washington surprised Coutts, 86, by announcing to approximately 200 spectators that an Elm tree planted there would be dedicated to this “humble and noble servant.”
Pulling out his reading glasses (“not only have I grown grey, but nearly blind in the service of my country”), Washington read a proclamation noting Coutts’ stewardship of the Green, and his love of the American Elm.
“Now therefore we dedicate this young sapling in his honor, so that in generations to come, future trustees and visitors to this lush sanctuary, which is the heart and soul of Morristown, will be forever reminded of his inestimable contributions,” the General declared, above the wail of sirens screeching around the 2.62-acre square.
And then he led a rousing round of “Hip Hip, Huzzas!”
Not too shabby.
“There are things in life you don’t expect. That’s certainly something I never expected,” said Coutts.
Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin
STEWARDSHIP
When the Presbyterian Church in Morristown sold the Green two centuries ago with the proviso that this former pasture remain a Common, nobody could have expected it would evolve from a jail site and hanging grounds into a place for proposals and protests, jazz concerts and Christmas festivals.
It’s a refuge for families, a haven for the homeless, a focal point for players of ukuleles and Pokémon Go.
Throughout, the Trustees have maintained the Green in accordance with the church’s stipulations. Two campaigns to remodel and beautify the park have unfolded on Coutts’ watch.
Organized by the Morris County Tourism Bureau, Sunday’s celebration attracted such real-life officials as Assemblymen Michael Patrick Carroll and Anthony M. Bucco (both R-25th Dist.) and Morristown Councilman Robert Iannaccone.
Claire Oplinger of the Morristown High School Colonials marching band got things started with her fife. Then the stars of the show marched onto the podium.
For the next hour, it felt like a Halloween spell had animated the popular statues of Washington, Hamilton and Lafayette on the Green.
Washington (played by John Lopes), Hamilton (Evan Kuhn) and Lafayette (Ben Goldman), shared their recollections of Morristown, where the Continental Army spent two winters during the Revolution.
The winter of 1779-80 was worse than Valley Forge, with snowdrifts 12 feet high, Washington told the crowd, on a shirtsleeves kind of autumn afternoon.
Hamilton had warmer memories; he wooed Betsy Schuyler here. “I will forever hold Morristown deeply within my heart for bringing this charmer to me,” he said.
And Lafayette recounted his joy at delivering news to Washington that France was sending soldiers and warships to help fight the British.
“Straightaway I ran into his arms and kissed him as though he were my own father. Which, I can assure you — and Monsieur Hamilton can vouch for me — struck the rest of the officers as a bit much, given the circumstances.”
‘HOPEFULNESS TO DIRE DESPAIR’
Each of these legendary guests shoveled a ceremonial scoop of dirt around Coutts’ sapling, a hardy new species that replaces a blighted, century-old Elm removed last year. Admiring their statues, they posed for “sketches,” as they called photographs (Washington described a telephoto lens as a cannon barrel) and fielded questions.
What was the Revolutionary War like? asked a young girl.
“It varied from extremes, from hopefulness to dire despair,” Washington replied.
Some 18th-century observations seemed pertinent to a 21st-century election.
Washington worried about unifying America after the Revolution. “We are currently 13 separate sovereign nations, so bringing us together as one people perhaps may be the most difficult challenge of all,” he said.
And Washington and Hamilton both had plenty to say about political factions.
“The danger with factions is if the interest of the faction takes over from the interest of the country…The interest of the country should always be at the forefront of your intentions and actions,” said Washington.
His advice: “Listen to both sides very carefully” and seek common ground.
Hamilton warned of factions fueling an “uneducated mob,” spawning demagogues and tyrants.
“You must have individuals who are learned, educated, but above all, who knows the man who is standing for office. I think that is exceedingly important. They must know the character of the gentleman, they must know the qualifications of the gentleman,” said the Founding Father, who was blackmailed over his own character issue, an affair he copped to in a 95-page pamphlet.
When someone mentioned Hamilton on Broadway, Hamilton remarked: “The cost is quite prohibitive, as I understand it.”
TOASTS AND TREES
After the festivities on the Green, the Revolutionary trio ventured through modern Morristown traffic to make their way to the Sansay House.
Today it’s the home of the F.M. Kirby Foundation. In 1825, it was the scene of a party honoring Lafayette, who was touring the United States for the nation’s 50th anniversary.
At a reception hosted by Dillard and Adrienne Kirby, the Trustees of the Green and their historic visitors took turns giving toasts — the same 13 toasts uttered there in 1825.
Washington raised an eyebrow when Bill Weiss toasted “the memory of General Washington.” Time travel gets tricky sometimes.
Trustee Alice Cutler was elated over the day’s celebration.
“How can you not love re-enactors coming back and bringing history to life?” she said.
For the next 200 years of the Morristown Green, Cutler would like to see a permanent stage, passive recreation that is gentle on the lawn, and … more trees.
Glenn Coutts had one word for his new American Elm:
“Marvelous!”
With a twinkle in his eye, he added:
“I want you to keep it watered, if you would.”
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Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove
With his wife Ellie by his side, Glenn Coutts would ask his friends and associates for help and then would encourage them to do more. The Green, as it is today is one of his most notable projects. The new Elm tree will be a lasting living legacy but only if they follow his request to make sure to keep it watered.