Library Shade Trees Bound For A New Incarnation

Date: Fri 29-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

library-shade-trees-McAvoy

Full Text:

WITH PHOTOS: Library Shade Trees Bound For A New Incarnation

BY ANDREA ZIMMERMANN

Percy Ferris expertly manuevered the cherry-picker bucket 75 feet in the air

and trimmed the last few branches from the crown of a sugar maple at the edge

of the library parking lot. It was Monday, March 25, the first day the general

contractor for the library addition was on the job and the day three shade

trees were to begin a new life.

"We consulted with an arborists and it was determined that the trees could not

be moved with a guarantee that they would live," said Library Director Janet

Woycik. And an estimate for moving just one of the trees was $40,000, she

added.

So the Library Board of Trustees decided to explore the possibility of

incorporating the wood from the 75 and 50 foot sugar maples, and 35 foot horse

chestnut in the new addition. Four Newtown residents offered their skills to

enable this idea to become reality.

The trees were cut down by Percy Ferris, owner of Total Landscaping Tree

Service, assisted by foreman Wayne Mead. That part of the project took half a

day, and culminated in sealing the ends of the logs with a wax to prevent

cracks from developing, thereby salvaging as much of the wood as possible.

Allen Kellogg and his son, Allen, of Kellogg Hardwoods Inc in Bethel, then

transported the logs to a sawmill in Georgetown. "We'll get about 500 to 600

feet of useable wood from the sugar maples and about 150 feet from the horse

chestnut," said the elder Mr Kellogg. "It'll be air-dried for three to four

months to get it down to 30 percent moisture, and then kiln-dried to 6 or 8

percent. That's the moisture content for furniture grade quality lumber." The

Kelloggs will also dress down the lumber for the fine woodworker, Greg McAvoy

of Hundred Acres Road, Newtown.

"I'll probably make a bench out of the horse chestnut - something frivolous

and fun - and might turn some legs for it," said Mr McAvoy. "The sugar maples

will be used as wainscoting for the circulation desk." And there is a

possibility some of the maple will be used to create a design in the flooring

of the center foyer.

The chestnut tree was donated by the late artist Andri Hudiakoff who lived for

many years on Pocono Road in Newtown. Andri and his wife, Doris, were great

gardeners, according to longtime neighbor Susan Toll. They had a good sized

horse chestnut tree on their property that produced "baby chestnuts," and it

was one of the saplings that was donated to the library.

The chestnut was planted at the library a few years before former library

director Sara Mitchell retired. Mrs Toll remembers the librarian commenting on

its small size; she didn't think she'd ever be able to sit in the shade of the

tree.

"This is giving it a second life. Knowing this was donated by an artist, I'm

curious to see what energy [the chestnut] will have and what form it will

take," said Mr McAvoy. But first the craftsman will have to see exactly how

much wood he will have to work with. "With such limitations on the material,

it will be challenging," he said. The bench will take about three weeks to

create.

"People have been very gracious in giving donations of time," said Kathy

Geckle, chair of the library's Long Range Planning Committee. "I know whatever

Greg will do will be wonderful."

Three other trees - two firs and one spruce - will be moved from the field

behind the library to the southeast corner of the parking area. More than a

dozen years ago, those trees were donated by Planter's Choice and planted by

Jim Kearns who maintains the library building and property.