Historic tree stays despite road work

The tree is believed to be the biggest and oldest bald cypress in Ohio.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- A road resurfacing project will spare a bald cypress tree, which is more than 175 years old, on U.S. Route 224 near Struthers Road.
"The tree is not going to be cut down," said township Trustee Robert Lidle.
Connie Coloutes, president of the Poland Township Historical Society, said she began getting phone calls from residents earlier this month when the historic tree had been marked with an X. Work is expected to start in the spring to resurface U.S. Route 224 between Riverside Drive and the Pennsylvania line.
When society members met with Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 officials to discuss resurfacing plans, it was agreed that the tree would be spared the ax, she said.
The tree's significance also was brought up during public hearings about the project, Coloutes said.
When she saw that the tree had been marked, she contacted township trustees. Lidle contacted ODOT, and the problem was rectified.
Coloutes said trustees had the tree wrapped with yellow caution tape and hung with signs saying it wasn't to be cut.
Jennifer Richmond, an ODOT District 4 spokeswoman, said the tree had been inadvertently marked. It wasn't to be cut down.
"It's a historic tree and also, at this time, it's not necessary for what the project entails," she said.
Besides the resurfacing, the project includes reconstruction of the Struthers and Clingan Road intersections. Reconstruction involves adding left turn lanes at Clingan at all four intersection approaches and upgrading the traffic signal.
At Struthers, sight distance will be improved by cutting down the hill, and overhead flashers will be installed.
Initially, turn lanes also were to be added at that intersection, but Richmond said that changed because of efforts to minimize the impact on property owners, the historic significance of the tree and the proximity of the Little Red Schoolhouse, which houses the Poland Township Historical Society.
Traffic counts at the intersection didn't indicate turn lanes were necessary, she said.
Tree recognized
Coloutes said that the tree was recognized several years ago by a resolution from the Women's Club of Poland to aid in the tree's preservation. The Ohio Forestry Association approximated its age and verified its significance.
"At that time, they said it was the biggest and oldest bald cypress in the state of Ohio," she said.
Those who have researched it surmise that the tree's seed may have been dropped by wagon train travelers passing through the area, Coloutes said.
The trees, which typically thrive in wet areas with lime-rich soil, are rare in this part of the country and generally found in the eastern or western parts of the United States, the historical society president said.