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A Piece of History: 300-Year-Old Wheeling Tree Will Live On as Mementos

File Photo by Scott McCloskey Crews with of Hi-Line Tree Service began cutting down a 300-year-old sycamore tree located on the corner at Monument Place in Elm Grove in early February.

WHEELING — As a 300-year-old sycamore tree has slowly been removed from the front lot at Monument Place in Elm Grove in recent weeks, area residents have turned out by the dozens, eager to claim a small “piece of history.”

Whether it’s to make a Christmas ornament, a patio planter, a gavel for a past potentate, or simply a walking stick — many area residents have made it a priority to stop at the corner of National Road and Kruger Street to claim a piece of wood from the highly visible landmark. It was determined the tree needed to be removed because of the potential hazard it presented to passing pedestrians and motorists.

Some local historic society members have referred to the giant landmark as the “witness” tree because of the the history that would have unfolded during the tree’s life span, including the construction of the nearby Stone Arch Bridge which was constructed in 1817. Estimated to weigh about 80 tons, Shriners were advised by tree experts that the large sycamore is about 300 years old and has a nearly 24-foot diameter near the base of the trunk.

Monument Place caretaker Dave Phillips said the amount of interest in the wood from the tree has been amazing. He said people have been stopping at the corner lot almost on a daily basis asking if they can claim anything from a larger log to smaller branches from the tree — many who plan to make a variety of household items.

“I’m amazed at the number of people still coming by just because of the sentimentality for the tree. It’s a nice old tree and it’s got history,” Phillips explained. “A lot of people are very interested in preserving a piece of history,” he added.

He said people have told him they plan to make everything from soup bowls to candlesticks holders out of the wood.

“A lot of people are just trying to make little medallions … and carve dates on them,” Phillips explained. He said at least a couple dozen people stopped by asking if they could claim a branch to be used as a walking stick.

Phillips said a few members of a local woodcarvers’ club expressed interest in making Christmas ornaments from some of the smaller pieces of wood which could possibly be auctioned off at a later date to raise money for a network of children’s hospitals that the Osiris Shriners support throughout the country. He said some people collecting wood have offered small donations to give back to the Shriners organization.

“Anything that helps the cause — the Shriners support the children’s hospitals,” Phillips explained. He said will attempt to grow saplings in the coming months from seed pods he gathered from the tree’s branches last fall to maybe auction off to help raise funds for the Shriners.

One local man showed up on Valentine’s Day asking is he could have a smaller piece of wood to carve into a heart forhis wife for Valentine’s Day. He said his wife expressed an interest in just claiming a small piece of wood from the tree — so he thought carving a heart would make a good Valentine’s Day present.

Lynn Majzun of St. Clairsville, who stopped by to collect a few small pieces of wood, said she was interested in trying to create a small table or bench. She said it’s exciting to see the interest the old tree is generating in the local community.

“It’s history. …. It’s been here for so long it seems like we should do something with it,” Majzun explained.

Sherry Dudash of St. Clairsville, whose husband has been an Osiris Shrine member for many years, said she just wanted a “piece of history,” while collecting a few pieces branches beneath the large sycamore. She said she aquired a fondness over the years for how different types of wood can be carved after her step-father worked with wood.

Dudash hopes to find someone who can help make a wooden gavel for her husband, Pete Dudash, who served as a potentate for the Shriners in 2013.

Joyce Crow, whose husband Barry Crow is also an active member with the Shriners, said she wanted to collect some wood before it was removed from the site.

“I think it’s a piece of history, it’s a part of the Shrine and it’s a big deal I think,” Crow commented. “It’s been here forever and ever and a lot of people who grew up here passed it every day,” she added.

Crow’s husband Barry, who serves as publicity chairman for the Shriners, said removing the tree was a decision that nobody wanted to make but they felt the tree became too much of a hazard on the busy corner. He said tree consultants spent several months trying to figure out ways to save the enormous tree after a large branch fell from its canopy last summer, nearly striking a groundskeeper. He said it just became too much of a safety issue and liability after it was determined a large section of the trunk was hollow. Gene Sligar, owner of Hi-Line Tree Service, was hired by the Shriners to cut the tree down.

Crow said the Shriners hope to eventually recognize the historic tree by possibly placing some sort of marker at the corner site.

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