RUMFORD — A plaque made from the wood of the old Paul Harris Fellows Tree was presented Tuesday to the Rumford Rotary Club.

Leo Arsenault, a Rumford native, had contacted Rumford Rotary President Rich Allen about the tree last fall when he learned of its fate. The tree had been taken down due to decay and was replaced by a flowering crab apple tree. Arsenault, a 31-year member of the Rotary Club in Rhode Island, received a piece of the tree that was dedicated in 1939 by the club’s founder, Paul Harris.

Arsenault said during his presentation that while growing up in Rumford, the tree was a special landmark to him. He said he remembered seeing the growing tree while participating in Boy Scout ceremonies on the Rotary greens and again while working at Gagnon’s Station as a teen.

Arsenault graduated from Stephens High School in 1957 and said he still has a great love for the area where he grew up. When he learned that the tree would be taken down he knew he had to have a piece of the oak. He was surprised when a 3-foot piece was delivered to his home.

Arsenault used it to create two plaques. One was for his home, which was laminated with a picture of the 1939 dedication on the front. The second plaque included a gavel and the inscription, “This wood came from a tree in Rumford, ME. Planted Oct. 3, 1939 by Paul P. Harris founder of Rotary International.”

Allen said he was honored to accept the plaque knowing that a piece of Rumford’s and the Rotary Club’s history was not lost.