Our Tulip Tree

The Tree Lives On Earl Plato
A little more than a year after the Fenian incursion of 1866 we became a nation on July 1st, 1867. Our tree would never see another foreign invasion. Peace in Niagara reigned.
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Less than a hundred years had passed when a tree
cutting company arrived in the Rosehill area and
to Graham Woods. They cut down the magnificent
white oaks and pines. Bert Miller was distraught. He had said that Graham Woods with its trillium filled
paths would never to be the same. Graham woods at Rosehill was not far away from our giant Tulip tree.
Some one in that Graham Woods cutting crew spied the giant. That week our historic tree was just another big tree. “ It’s got to be worth at least ‘x’ number of dollars per board foot. Cut it down fellows.” Bert with tears in his eyes informed my father, “ Perc, they’ve cut the tree.” Bert had lost a friend.
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We Know what happened to you, great tree, not so many years ago. We are sad that you’re gone. There are still Fort Erieans and other Niagarans that remember your great girth and height and sadly your demise. Tim Seburn, one of our local naturalists, in an interview with me in 1988 said, “That tree was special! We do have tulip trees left but that one tree was really special.”
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Bert Miller saw fit to take some of the scions of our tree and he planted some. One that I know of he planted in the backyard of his daughter’s home, Mary (Miller) Souder, on the Niagara boulevard. Mary told me back in 1988 that she vividly remembered the time of the planting. The tree now towers. The Rosehill tulip tree giant lives on in its offspring. Thanks Bert.
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Every few years we revisit the famed N.P.C.A.‘s Comfort maple in North Pelham. I lament that we can’t do the same with our Rosehill tulip tree. Developers and private home owners be aware of heritage trees on your holdings and property. Make sure that they will be protected.
Help preserve our natural heritage in Niagara before it‘s too late..