Town’s Largest Maple Is Found In Sandy Hook

By Kendra Bobowick

Residents have pinpointed specimens standing openly in fields, prominently beside stonewalls, and partially hidden in wooded groves. Concluding a weeks-long search for the town’s largest Acer saccharum, or sugar maple, The Newtown Forest Association (NFA) has announced the winners — Elin Hayes of 7 Bradley Lane who has a sugar maple on her property measuring 186 inches in circumference. Second place goes to a specimen measuring 183 inches in circumference located on a trail near the intersection of Queen Street and Wasserman Way reported by Steve and Shauna Carmichael.

NFA volunteers confirmed the trees’ measurements in past days and brought a close to the contest opened in mid August as part of a campaign aimed at renewing residents’ environmental awareness.

Offering directions to her address, Ms Hayes said, “I’ve got one huge, enormous tree in the front yard.”

The tree on her property has received extensive tender loving care since the Hayeses moved into their house 13 years ago. Visible from the base are lightning deterrent cords running down the trunk and into the ground. A glance upward reveals barely-visible support wires between thick branches, and the stubbed ends of trimmed limbs.

Mairin Hayes, 9, stood beside the tree with her mother as Ms Hayes talked about the family’s history with the massive sugar maple.

 “There were dozens of trees in the front yard that had to come down [when they moved in] — some infested with termites, ants, etc,” said Ms Hayes. After cutting down the trees in danger of falling, “We were able to really highlight this tree and my husband took a lot of pride in it.” The couple also was aware that in the years prior to moving into the house, another, even larger maple had fallen and damaged the roof and dormers. She believes that tree might have been the largest sugar maple recorded in the state at one time.

The winning tree for the 2006 NFA contest has regularly received deep-root fertilization and has been cared for by hand under the Hayeses’ attention.

“We had taken an interest in this tree; it’s a prominent part of the landscape,” she said. As motorists drive along Bradley Lane, the tree’s size draws attention as it stretches above the rest of the tree canopy. Ms Hayes’s husband, Tim, died last year, and she felt that continuing care for the tree was important. Today, she and her daughter are proud of their sugar maple.

“It’s important for many reasons,” she said. “It’s like we’re its custodians and I am passing my knowledge to my daughter.”

Several years ago the tree had gained notoriety for its size.

“One state official thought it was the third largest in the state,” she said. Ms Hayes has a copy of Connecticut’s Notable Trees by Glenn D. Dryer, and third on the list of trees and locations is 7 Bradley Lane. Ms Hayes also has a small collection of old photographs of her 1710 address. Two photos reveal the larger maple that fell, and also this year’s contest winner as it stood along the stone wall in 1937.

Newtown Forest Association Treasurer Guy Peterson is pleased with the contest’s outcome. He also feels the contest accomplished its goal of raising residents’ interest in their environment.

“It’s tough for people to stop and look at trees,” he said. He said the NFA website, NewtownForestAssociation.org, has educated people about the sugar maple.

Pieces of the state’s background also reveal trees’ significance.

“There are more trees in Connecticut today that 100 years ago, but now we’re losing forest land faster than we can replenish it due to development,” said Mr Peterson. “We were an agricultural community then.” Open fields used for farming, for example, have dwindled.

In a recent release, the NFA Board of Directors members expressed hopes that residents “had an opportunity to learn a little about the sugar maple, the NFA, and had time to reflect on the value that trees play in our society.”

The contest was open for applications until August 15. In the days leading up to the deadline, NFA members visited each of the three largest reported trees to validate the winning applications. The winner of the Largest Sugar Maple Contest will receive $250.