Letter to the editorBy Lauren Tilley
Graduate student in allied health management
Published: Sunday, March 7, 2010
Updated: Sunday, March 7, 2010
There are several historic American sycamore trees directly in the proposed path of a temporary road extension, from John H. Herrick Drive to Neil Avenue, to support Project One efforts for the expansion of our cancer hospital and medical center campus. The American sycamore tree directly behind Tzagournis Medical Research Facility is a prominent figure in the stark landscape surrounding the hospitals and research buildings and is in immediate danger from this proposed plan.
The lone sycamore appears directly behind a historical marker which signifies its importance in location to a former site within the Underground Railroad. It is a tree my colleagues and I see from our offices, as well as on our daily walk to and from work. Its exfoliated bark makes this tree unique in addition to its towering stature. Its ability to serve as a miraculous shade tree should be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come. I’ve found myself mesmerized by this tree and am saddened that these trees are to be destroyed to make way for a temporary road. Especially when there are other obvious direct paths that a new road could take, that would spare these trees, with much less impact on university land and research buildings.
Graduate student in allied health management
Published: Sunday, March 7, 2010
Updated: Sunday, March 7, 2010
There are several historic American sycamore trees directly in the proposed path of a temporary road extension, from John H. Herrick Drive to Neil Avenue, to support Project One efforts for the expansion of our cancer hospital and medical center campus. The American sycamore tree directly behind Tzagournis Medical Research Facility is a prominent figure in the stark landscape surrounding the hospitals and research buildings and is in immediate danger from this proposed plan.
The lone sycamore appears directly behind a historical marker which signifies its importance in location to a former site within the Underground Railroad. It is a tree my colleagues and I see from our offices, as well as on our daily walk to and from work. Its exfoliated bark makes this tree unique in addition to its towering stature. Its ability to serve as a miraculous shade tree should be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come. I’ve found myself mesmerized by this tree and am saddened that these trees are to be destroyed to make way for a temporary road. Especially when there are other obvious direct paths that a new road could take, that would spare these trees, with much less impact on university land and research buildings.
With a diameter of roughly 4.775 feet, this American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is estimated to be 200 years old or older. In fact, aerial photography of the campus in 1904 clearly shows the presence of mature sycamore trees along the former stream that once went through the South Oval and Mirror Lake.
This tree was here long before Ohio State University was established in 1870, and has possibly been here since the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 as seen on a plaque near Hopkins hall commemorating another historically significant American Sycamore.
The Ohio State University has taken many strides to promote recycling on campus in addition to reusing materials during the Thompson Library renovation and new Student Union. Why can they not spare these miraculous trees in future expansion projects to better the University community? After all, we were founded as a land-grant university specializing in Ohio agriculture. It is our responsibility to be caretakers and preserve these historic roots to our university.
You can view the link to this story appearing in The Ohio State University's newspaper, The Lantern.
The sycamore is my favorite tree species. In an OSU dendrology class we learned of a few "60-mile-per-hour trees," those which can be identified when driving by at 60mph, and the sycamore is one of those.
ReplyDeleteI always say if I ever own land there will be a sycamore tree and a hereford cow on it. Its ghostly appearance in winter and large canopy and characteristic fruit in summer are some favorite traits. Another is its large girth.
How can anyone help but admire such grand specimens of these trees as found at several sites throughout the OSU campus? From his 10th-floor lab window, a coworker's husband observed a litter of squirrels in their nest in this particular tree. The loss of even one would be a travesty, especially for the sake of a temporary road.
Was an EIS completed for this project? This will significantly impact our immediate environment and that of the wildlife using this tree for food and shelter, not to mention removing a piece of living history as based on Lauren's article.
Readers, PLEASE!, add your name to the petition mentioned by Lauren! And, Project One planners, PLEASE! reconsider your decision for the location of this road!
I have photographed the two threatened sycamores from a number of angles and today from the inside of the building looking out at them. They are a beauty to behold. Some years ago I did some searching on the campus landscape and wrote a research paper. The (Fredrick Law)Olmsted firm was consulted about the OSU campus landscape and I commented: Perhaps not until F.L.Olmsted's influence became evidenced, did the powers that be more seriously consider the landscape as a whole, rather than pieces. After the monolithic University Hall was built as a multipurpose edifice, it was Olmsted's vision and values of landscape that considered "The Village in a Park Concept" (Young lecture). The 1905 report (Herrick file) of the Olmsted Brothers gave careful considerations to the lay of the land and practically every plant on that land. A building sited would carefully and deliberately steer clear of significant trees and there was even concern (Importantly) for a tree's roots!
ReplyDeleteThese massive and majestic sycamores are part of our heritage landscape and trees over a hundred years old seem to be a threatened species.
See: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/digstory09/Massey.flv
I took a picture of this tree in the winter and posted it on my FB because it always is so beautiful in any season. I said "this is my favorite tree ever" and listed where it was. I got many responses back from people who don't even live in Ohio. My husband and I have been in Columbus for a number of years and I am an employee in the BRT who looks at this majestic tree everyday. I AM TOTALLY SICK ABOUT THE STREET CONTRACTORS WANTING TO TAKE THIS DOWN!!
ReplyDeleteI'm an Ohio State Grad student, and I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you are fighting for the trees. If you ever need help tabling, I'm in: davis.3228@osu.edu.
ReplyDelete-Allison
Has there been any development on this issue? Or do we have the contact information for who is in charge of the construction projects for the university?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Tim