Longtime Medfield resident and revered tree care champion Ellis Allen was honored with the Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA) Legacy Award during the organization’s annual Arbor Day of Service, held Friday, April 25, at Millborn Farm, a newly acquired Trustees of Reservations conservation property in Sherborn, MA.
The award was presented by fellow Medfield resident Mike Lueders, owner of the Lueders Companies (now SavATree), before a crowd of more than 100 arborist volunteers, friends, and family members who gathered to celebrate Allen’s lifetime contributions to arboriculture and community service.
In his tribute, Lueders highlighted the far-reaching impact of Allen’s work:
“A legacy includes something handed on – values, beliefs, practices – making an enduring impact that benefits those who follow. Ellis’s legacy includes trees, his family, the town of Medfield, his company Allen Tree Experts (now part of Davey Tree), and our Association. The people and properties touched by his care are countless – including the Constable property here at Millborn Farm.”
Allen’s deep roots in Medfield were also recognized:
“His town was Medfield, just across the river from us now. He grew up there, learned about trees from his grandfather, performed his first tree jobs, started and grew his business, served on the On-Call Fire Department, and when he moved to the Cape, he was the last Allen to leave town – coming from one of its founding families.”
Notably, Allen served as Medfield’s Tree Warden from 1950 to 1984, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who held the role for 46 years. Together, the Allens cared for Medfield’s public trees for an extraordinary 76 years.
“Ellis, today is about you – the legacy you leave and the trees and people you’ve touched. It’s fitting that a White Oak will be planted in your honor – extending your legacy another 300 years or more.”
The MAA is the nation’s oldest arboriculture association, founded in the late 1930s. Today, it represents more than 800 professional arborists across the Commonwealth and advances the field through education, safety training, certification, and public outreach. Learn more at MassArbor.org.
The event took place at Millborn Farm, a scenic 195-acre property with frontage on the Charles River in Sherborn and Millis, MA. Recently purchased by The Trustees of Reservations, the site will be opened to the public in summer 2026 for passive recreation including hiking, birdwatching, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. Learn more at thetrustees.org/savemillborn
