To the Editor:
A heritage Bur Oak growing on the southwest side of St. Paul Church is slated for removal soon to make way for the construction of a new parish hall set to be adjacent to the church. The tree is estimated to be two centuries old and would have been already growing before Macomb was first established in 1830; before the first wooden Catholic Church was built in 1867; before the Diocese of Peoria was established in 1875; and before the current brick church was built in 1925-100yrs ago. Studies have shown that Bur Oaks can live for 350 to 400 years or more.
The Bur Oak provides the canopy that shades the St. Francis of Assisi Meditation Garden which was dedicated to the decades of service given by the Sisters of St. Francis from Clinton, Iowa to our Catholic school and former Catholic hospital. The tree also shades God's house.
The tree has been carefully examined by four very experienced and qualified professional arborists and was found to be in excellent condition and did not pose a threat to the current church. The construction project manager for the new addition built in 1990, has inspected the site and determined the tree is causing no damage to the church building foundation or roof.
The Peoria Diocese’s Director of Property and Facilities Management inspected the proposed building site, as it is currently situated next to the tree, and has recommended removal stating that it would pose a threat to the existing church and new parish hall. While we feel that a new parish hall is beneficial to our parish community, there are compromises that could have been taken to allow for the construction without the removal of the tree with the impact on the meditation garden. Unfortunately, the professional arborists were not given an opportunity to be present at the inspection to discuss the tree in relation to the project before a decision was made to have it removed. It was the strong professional opinion of all four arborists that the Bur Oak and planned parish hall could successfully coexist if the new building’s footprint was shifted just 50 additional feet to the west. This would protect the critical rootzone under the tree’s canopy from construction damage and the tree would not pose a risk to the new parish hall.
Despite efforts of some members of the parish and those in the community who are aware of the situation, the die seems to have been cast and the tree will be cut down. Before this happens, I encourage you to drive by and perhaps, even stop to sit in the meditation garden for a while under the shade of its canopy, to say a prayer for this magnificent creation of God, as I and others have, before she is lost forever for those of us now and to the future generations in our community.
Tim Howe, Macomb
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To the Editor:
This letter serves as a requiem for the magnificent bur oak tree at St. Paul’s Church. Few words can adequately describe the tree's true beauty. For 200 years, it has stood beside the church, offering shade, solace, and peace to all who pass by. The poem 'Trees,' written by Joyce Kilmer in 1915, celebrates the wonder of this tree and its Creator, God.
“ Trees” by Joyce Kilmer I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.
The poem is in the public domain.
Brenda Sayre, Macomb
