‘16 THE A-U Det BON {8(U: beer 
inbotham home at Joliet. This collection was named The 
Forest of Arden. It contained 327 acres of heavy forested 
land, a grist mill and dam. 
With O. C. Simonds, the widely known landscape artist, 
and Homer C. Skeels, botanist, seed expert for the U. S. de- 
partment at Washington, in charge, roads, dams, driveways 
and bridges were constructed and a vigorous collection of 
plants made and planted. After five years of this building and. 
planting the land lay idle. Following the death of Mr. Higin- 
botham, one of our many “Joliet boosting merchants,” Robert 
Pilcher, purchased the Forest of Arden one day and turned it 
over to Joliet the next day. To be maintained as an arbor- 
etum. ‘‘Nothing to pay,” were the terms to the city. 
The children of Mr. Higinbotham, Harlow D., Mrs. Joseph 
Medill Patterson and Mrs. Richard T. Crane, followed with 
the presentation for arboretum purposes of 240 acres of cut- 
over land containing rich soil and many springs. Thus “park- 
wise,” Joliet is gloriously provided for and Joliet citizens are 
grateful and happy. 
All of these lands are a game and bird preserve controlled 
by a park board governed by rigid ordinances of the Lincoln 
Park Board. The arboretum ambitions of Mr. Higinbotham 
will be carried on as fast as enthusiasm and cash will permit. 
A state fish-hatchery is promised for a secluded, yet accessible 
site on the edge of the forest; water and fish food are plentiful, 
the landscape pleasing. A little more land to square up these 
tracts and quiet the prevailing golf clamor is promised. Then 
we will have a real park system with hopes of making every 
resident of Joliet exceedingly proud and joyful. 
Another secret: The outlying border of the Hickory 
Creek system is within four miles of that ‘““world-beating for- 
est preserve of Cook County.” The landscape along Hickory 
. Creek well up into Cook County is delightful, the atmosphere 
pure and all conditions restful and soothing, very appropriate 
for picnic and boulevard purposes. At an early date no doubt 
the people from the north side and all other sides of Chicago 
will visit our arboretums in their own machines without a 
break in boulevard or park shade and we shall be delighted to 
become better acquainted and return the visit. 
The beginning of the Hickory Creek system from the Jol- 
iet side is at the Highland Park and the Red Mill boating 
and bathing entrance. Then in turn eastward, a driveway is 
platted to be bordered by bright colored mallows, iris, lilies, 
and lotus ponds. Next in order is an introduction to our great- 
est attraction, the deep and darksome forest of giant oaks, 
hickories, walnuts and maples of the Pilcher Arboretum. 
Next eastward, up the creek, the valley boulevard will 
pass through collections of smaller trees, shrubs and small 
