Photo by Scott McCloskey Jared Sligar, foreground, with of Hi-Line Tree Service, works with a crew Saturday in the removal process of a 300-year-old sycamore tree located on the corner at Monument Place in Elm Grove.

WHEELING — After standing for nearly 300 years on the lot at Monument Place in Elm Grove, crews began on Saturday removing sections of a giant sycamore tree that eventually will be completely removed because of the danger it presents to passing pedestrians and motorists, according to Osiris Shriners Publicity Chairman Barry Crow.

Crow said tree experts have spent several months trying to figure out ways to save the enormous tree after a large branch fell from the tree last summer while a custodian was cutting grass on the lot below. He said while the custodian was not injured, there have been a lot of discussions about hazards the tree poses. The area beneath had to be taped off several months ago.

“It’s been such a mainstay in the community that nobody wanted to see it cut down,” Crow explained.

Crow said the Shriners board of directors have spent a lot of time over the past few months working with tree consultants from Wheeling, Pittsburgh and the Akron area looking for any way possible to save the tree. He said they were advised by experts that the large sycamore is estimated to be 300 years old and have about a 24 foot diameter measurement near the base of the trunk.

Many people have publicly commented about the significant landmark and the history that would have unfolded during the tree’s life span.

If the tree is 300 years old, it would have stood “witness” to many historic events in that section of the city, including the construction of the nearby Stone Arch Bridge which was constructed in 1817. Some have commented that it will be very unusual to drive by the intersection of Kruger Street and National Road once the tree is completely removed from the site.

Crow said the Shriner board has reached out to several tree experts asking for advice and if there is any way possible to save it. He said following several months of consulting, they came to the conclusion there is no way to save the large sycamore. He said there have been previous attempts to save the tree over the years, as concrete was poured inside a section of the trunk back in 1983.

“A botanist came down and did several checks and actually drilled into the tree, and determined that it’s about 4 inches thick and the rest of it is hollow on the inside of the trunk,” Crow explained.

“The bottom line is it is too much of a liability,” Crow explained. “Something bad could happen, that’s why it’s been taped off. … We don’t want people walking back there. We don’t want people parking there. It was estimated to weigh about 80 tons” he added.

Crow said the Shriners are in discussions about what they might want to do in the space where the tree currently stands as an attempt to recognize such a historic “landmark.” He said there have been discussions about whether to plant another tree or erect a plaque at the site but no decision has been made by the board.

According to their website, the Shriners is a fraternal organization is committed to helping children with burns or orthopedic problems, regardless of their ability to pay. Shriner’s network of 22 hospitals throughout North America provides specialty burn and orthopedic care to children in need.

Gene Sligar, owner of Hi-Line Tree Service, who has been hired by the Shriners to cut the tree down, echoed Crows comments — saying there is nothing that could be done to make the tree safe to passing pedestrians and motorists. He said he didn’t “want to be the one to have to cut the tree down” and advised the Shriners to get several expert opinions on the matter.

“The trunk is hollow, ” Sligar explained, after pointing out there are a lot of students who walk past that location almost daily.

Sligar said the owner of an Akron tree company also tested the density of the trunk and determined the tree need to come down. He said they even consulted with the state forester, who came to the same conclusion. Sligar said the tree removal will be somewhat of a lengthy “process” over several days. He plans to work on it today and continue again next weekend.

“This is not what I envisioned for the tree. … It’s a shame. It’s the only option at this point,” Sligar added.