Trees
We have listed some of the more interesting historical
trees and tree-related events from the life of the Arboretum. Thanks
to Alexandra Coombs for compiling the research and writing some
of the pieces.
The Copper Beech –
A Birthday Tribute
Written in honor of the Copper Beach for the
centennial anniversary of its planting, 2004.
Nestled between the Library Annex and Dwight, at the
northern end of the MHC campus, the beautiful Copper Beech is just
over 100 years old, and is probably one of the most well-known trees
on campus. The Copper Beech was planted in 1904 by Asa Kinney, a
much-loved professor of botany at Mount Holyoke College. The tree
was planted to commemorate the birth of Kinney’s daughter,
Carolyn.
Also known by its scientific name, Fagus sylvatica
atropupurea group, the Copper Beech evokes the archetypical beauty
of trees, and has endeared itself to the campus community with its
tiny, pointy and delicate cigar-shaped buds, smooth and expansive
gray trunk and branches, and most stunningly, its copper foliage.
The foliage arrives in late spring, a translucent burgundy pink
flush of leaves, deepening to a dark burgundy through summer, and
finally turning a pleasing cognac color come fall.
In the 100 years since it was planted, the Copper
Beech has grown to majestic proportions, and now stands over 80
feet high, with a trunk diameter of over six feet! Anyone who has
paused beneath the Copper Beech to marvel at the mass of smooth
gray branches above, will be able to attest to the grandeur of this
enormous tree, growing in our midst. A grow it has, throughout the
campus’ many changes.
Throughout several major construction projects on
the northern end of campus during the late 1990’s to mid 2000’s,
the Copper Beech has been actively protected from soil compaction,
root disturbance and branch breakage. As we pause now to look up
and celebrate the birthday-planting year of the Copper Beech, consider
how people have worked to protect the tree through the years, and
imagine ways you can protect the tree for the future.
Sugar Maple Grove
– Acer saccharum, Quercus species
An interesting feature on campus is the Sugar Maple Grove surrounding
Mary Lyon’s Grave, between the Chapel and the Amphitheatre.
The Sugar Maple Grove was planted in 1848, under the direction of
Mary Lyon, by a man named Lucius ‘Toot’ Hyde. Hyde collected
trees from nearby mountains (probably the Holyoke Range), and helped
arrange them on campus to replicate a natural planting.
Trees included in the original planting were Slippery Elm, American
Elm, Birches, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Norway Maple, White Oak, Butternut,
Basswood, Hop hornbeam, Larch an Carolina Poplar. Today, the grove
is predominantly composed of Sugar Maples and Oak trees, and gracefully
overarches the center of campus.
Black Walnut – Juglans
nigra, Class Tree for classes of 1912, 1916 and 1920.
An enormous Black Walnut tree used to grow in front of the Library,
and was designated the class tree for several Mount Holyoke classes.
According to legend, the tree originated as a walking stick that
a visitor from Ohio stuck into the ground. The walking stick proceeded
to take root and grew to grand proportions, 120 feet high with an
equally wide crown and 15 feet in diameter at its base. Unfortunately
a strong wind destroyed the much loved walnut in 1917. It was 128
years old at its death. Although many were deeply saddened by the
loss of the tree, its wood was saved until it could be used for
a meaningful purpose. Today this wood can be seen in the library
as paneling on the walls. The remaining wood was made into knitting
needles.
The Hurricane of 1938
The Hurricane of 1938 was probably the single most devastating natural
disaster of the 20th century for New England. Damage to campus trees
was extensive. Records indicate that Mount Holyoke College lost
1,200 trees from this event alone. Major Otto C. Kohler, the superintendent
of Buildings and Grounds, started a program to replace the trees
in Aril of 1946. Previous efforts to replant the campus were postponed
by the U.S. involvement in World War II. Kohler was responsible
for the planting of the ‘tree belt’ along College Street,
between Park Street and Morgan Street. Kohler’s program helped
to replant many of the trees on campus, adding to the beautiful
canopy we enjoy today.
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