Heather (and Phil, et al.):

In Cazenovia, also in Madison County, where the Lincklaen and Ledyard
family held reign for more than a few generations, and through which ran
the 3rd great Western Turnpike, you will find many of the stately "aged
sugar maples" that you mention.  Unfortunately many of them are now
succumbing to disease and old age and not bing replaced.  Power line
clearing and road widening have done more damage, though, and replanting of
suitable species (historic- and aestheitic-wise) is a wonderful project
that I'm glad is being considered.

Russ Grills, the former site manager at Lorenzo State Historic Site in
Cazenovia, has done extensive work on the history of the early turnpikes
and landscape beautification projects.  He wrote a number of short articles
which may be of help in your search.  I provide a contact number below.

I don't recall that tree planting was ever a consideration by Lincklaen and
the early Turnpike proprietors.  In fact, Russ Grills' work found that the
Turnpikes were often barren and treeless paths through the wilderness and
that it was not until the next generation or so, when surrounding lands had
been cleared, that shade trees and beautification of the route was
mentioned as being desirable (meaning it should be undertaken).  I'm sure
that drovers and travelers made use of groves and large trees along the
way, but I doubt that such amenities were provided on purpose until later
years.

As part of the landscaping of his own estate, Lorenzo, in Cazenovia, John
Lincklaen planted rows of lombardy poplars along the Turnpike, as well as
pines and orchards where they could be seen, but this was not necessarily
for the benefit of the traveling public.  These were improvements to his
personal estate.

In the 1840s Ledyard Lincklaen, the son of John Lincklaen's adopted son
(his wife's brother), went on a campaign to beautify the otherwise barren
landscape, especially along the highways over which travelers first
experienced the region.  He talked of the benefits of shade, marking the
way in deep snow, and simple aesthetics, etc.

Ledyard Lincklaen went on a planting spree in and around 1843.  Besides
numerous trees which still stand at Lorenzo he planted many trees in
Cazenovia for which we have documentation, including a large maple near the
Cazenovia Public Library, a wonderful grove of maples across the Public
Square, and in Evergreen Cemetery.

I found that the omnipresent Elm trees of yore that succumbed to the Dutch
Elm disease in mid-20th century were generally planted after 1870, although
many were quite huge.  Photos of streets in Cazenovia up through 1861 show
barren sidewalks, but in later images around 1880 you can see the small
plantings with support stakes.

Basswood trees also showed up about the same time near the Lincklaen House
(Hotel) and at least two of these stood a few years ago when I was last in
town.

As for the use of maple trees along rural roads, they too seem to have been
planted in the 1840s as that was the date derived from ring counts of many
I examined that had been cut down for a town highway project.  One of the
largest (diameter) maples in the state, located in the southwest part of
town is clearly a deformed planted specimin as it is in line with several
others that are of regular size.

Give the folks at Lorenzo a call (315) 655-3200 to see about getting copies
of Russ Grills' research on the landscape beautification, turnpikes,
Lincklaen, and tree planting.

         Dan W.






At 04:53 PM 5/20/02, you wrote:
>I am forwarding this to the list as I am sure someone out there will have
>the answer. You may email me or email Ms. Pritchard at
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>I am hoping that you can help me or point me in the right direction. I am
>curious to learn about the trees that were planted as part of the
>turnpikes.  Several (Great Western, Cherry Valley, etc.) cross this DOT
>region and many aged sugar maples are dying out along state highways that
>have been routed along the turnpikes. I am interested if the legislation
>that set up the turnpikes, or any other related documents specify the
>spacing of the trees that were places of refuge from sun and storm along
>the routes.  Some times we have a few discretionary trees that can be used
>as replacements in our landscaping contracts and I have been discussing
>this also in relation to our project on Rte. 173 in Madison County. Please
>advise how I might learn more about this subject.
>Thank you,
>Heather Pritchard
>Regional Cultural Resources Specialist
>NYSDOT Region 2