Over the years, “06880” has reported on too many tree removal stories.
This is not one of those.
Over the past months, there’s been an effort in town to improve the intersections and cross streets on Myrtle Avenue.
One victim of this modernization project was to be the island in front of Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, by Sconset Square. The plan was to remove everything, to form a “T” intersection.
The site is lovely. It’s also historic.
It’s where the Disbrow Tavern was located, back in the 1700s. George Washington is said to have had some ale there, and maybe even a room for the night.
The original Myrtle Avenue traffic island was much larger. (Photo courtesy of Morley Boyd)
A tree sat on the island for centuries, until the 1960s. It was removed in an earlier modernization project.
Church members took it upon themselves to inform the town of the site’s history and beauty, and the utility of the island and tree.
In the mid-’60s, parishioners planted what they called the new “Trinity tree.”
Fifty years later, that history has been forgotten by — or is unknown to — many Westporters. Construction has decreased the size of the island, and damaged the roots. All of that endangered the Trinity tree.
Some area residents and members of the Planning & Zoning Commission worked through a variety of town agencies to save the tree, and the island.
Over the last couple of weeks, a contractor hired by the town has loosened the soil, injected it with mulch and nutrients, trimmed the branches — and removed campaign signs.
The tree, after trimming last week. (Photo/Chip Stephens)
Thanks to tree warden Bruce Lindsay and others, the Trinity tree now has a good chance of adorning, and shading, the island for another 50 years.
That is, if people don’t tramp on the island and its roots, while putting up signs.
Lindsay placed 4 small signs on the island, asking people to stay off and give the tree a chance.
A campaign sign appeared this morning. Town officials say they’ll remove them, as long as the tree is convalescing.
This is not about politics. It’s just about common sense.
And the history and beauty of a downtown tree we all love, admire and respect.