College of Wooster plants native black gum trees to restore campus landscape outside Kauke Hall

On Tuesday, Sept. 30, The College of Wooster celebrated the planting of two rows of black tupelo “wildfire” (black gum) trees outside Kauke Hall in partnership with Paul Abbey, a political science graduate of the college from 1973 and founder of Rooted in Trees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the Northern Ohio tree canopy and environmental preservation.

The new trees, acquired from a tree nursery in Lake County, add shade and beauty to a place on the academic quad that Abbey said is one of the most photographed sites on campus.

“The trees on the south side of Kauke Hall are symbolic of Wooster’s commitment to trees and a returning to the landscape architectural design created many years ago,” President Anne McCall said, thanking Abbey and Phil Olsen, grounds manager, and the college grounds crew. 

She also acknowledged Wooster’s membership in Tree Campus USA through the Arbor Day Foundation. From the march through the arch at orientation to the I.S. Monday Parade, the greenery on campus adds character to the traditions that mean the most to Wooster students.

“The trees will provide the student body with shade and beauty for years to come,” Abbey said.

He expressed excitement for the enthusiasm of the students and members of the college community and children from the Wooster Preschool who helped celebrate the tree planting and the importance of healthy trees to the local ecosystem.

“Rooted in Trees is about giving back," he said. "Our purpose is education, community engagement and getting trees in the ground. We accomplished that today.”

Volunteers from the community warmed up with stretches led by a student-athlete and then spread nutrients and mulch around each of the trees.

“Having all the trees on campus makes it feel more connected, more like a community,” said Alex Markland, a history major who hand-spread soil.

Known for their fall color of cranberry red, 14 of the new black gum trees that were planted line either side of the brick walkway leading to Kauke Arch, and seven others will be planted in other locations on campus.

Abbey, who comes from generations of Wooster graduates, sees this project as one way to give back to his alma mater. Familiar with the history of elm trees that stood in the same space while he was a student and their later deterioration from Dutch elm disease, he worked closely with Olsen, a certified arborist who has served the college grounds crew for more than 15 years.

“We were looking for a way to replenish this part of campus, and Paul stepped forward with additional funding and support for the project,” Olsen said.

“We chose native trees that would adapt to the local ecosystem,” Abbey said, explaining they would be sturdier than the elms. “These trees will have a shape similar to a Christmas tree and are suited to Northern Ohio. Plus, their foliage is stunning.”

Wooster has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a member of Tree Campus USA for 14 years. The college’s commitment to the program is supported by the Tree Conservation Endowment, established in 1987, supporting tree conservation, maintenance and replacement at Wooster, and the Grace Tompos Endowed Tree Fund, established in 2001 in honor of the former executive director of development at the college to support special tree-related publications and expenses including the purchase of rare trees.

Many of the oldest trees on campus stood at the founding of the college in 1866, and the grounds department has created a comprehensive map of all 2,800 trees managed on campus. The map includes information about when the tree was planted and donated, where applicable, as well as data on tree species, diameter, carbon sequestration, stormwater benefits and more.