Trees of Tappan Square

A anthology and history of the Trees of Tappan Square in Oberlin, Ohio.

1. Trees of Tappan Square
Land Acknowledgement
Before European settlers colonized the area, this land belonged to the Wyandotte and
Ottawa for more than 100 centuries. Native peoples nurtured and took care of this land
long before it was taken from them.
The purpose of this project is to highlight the hundreds of beautiful trees on Tappan
Square by understanding their history and considering their present: both the dangers
and hopeful futures they hold. In acknowledging the history of the trees and land of
Tappan Square, we can better understand what we can do to protect and foster the land
that we use and love. Please read the History of Tappan Square to learn more about the
trees that are native to the region and how Tappan Square went from dense woods to
the first grounds of the college to the arboretum it is today.
Table of Contents:
History of Tappan Square
American Sycamore
Bur Oak
Chestnut Oak
Dawn Redwood
Historic American Elm
Pin Oak
River Birch
Red Oak
Scotch Pine
Swamp White Oak

2. History of Tappan Square
The earliest photo of Tappan Square, looking northwest from College St.
Tappan Square was a wet forest full of pin oaks, red oaks, and American elms before
early settlers cut down all the trees on Tappan except for the historic American elm on
the southeast corner of the square. For a time, Tappan was known as ‘Stumpville’
because it was full of tree stumps after they were all cut down. The campus was first
built on Tappan Square and it was known as ‘College Park’. The last two buildings
standing on Tappan were removed in 1927. The Olmsted Brothers, a landscape
architecture firm, recommended there be a spacious green park. In 1978, the President
of Oberlin College Emil Danenberg called for a 10-year plan to adorn Tappan with a
collection of diverse trees. In the 1950’s, Dutch elm disease leveled many of the elms
that were on the square. You’ll notice that many of the trees that are planted on Tappan
are known for being fast growing and resilient to disease. Many of them are also native
to this area as the college has made a conscious effort to plant native trees. However,
native trees are also more susceptible to illness due to diseases that were brought from
European lumber in the 1950s and 60s that specifically attack Elms, Oaks, and Pines;
trees that are native to many places in the United States.

3. American Sycamore
American sycamore’s are native to this area including eastern and central United
States. These trees become notoriously large and can create huge hollow cavities that
bears often hang out in.
The twisted nature of this tree is actually due to a fungal disease called Anthracnose
which kills the terminal bud causing branches to grow out the side of the branch making
its limbs look mangled. This tree is one of the most notable trees on Tappan, with large
white sprawling branches it can be spotted from across the square.
This is also the only sycamore on Tappan Square!
Next Stop:River birch, walk northeast and check outthe map below.

4. Bur Oak
Bur Oaks are native to Ohio! There are several Bur Oaks on Tappan Square. This one
is especially notable due to the swing that hangs from the Oaks’ branches. If you
inspect around the trunk of the tree, you will notice abrasions on the lower trunk near
the swing. This is from Oberlin students knocking the swing side to side into the trunk of
the tree. This damages the cambium layer of the tree which is its vascular system. Over
time, as more damage is done to part of the tree, the oxygen flow of this tree will
diminish and part of the tree will die or become permanently damaged. To help save this
tree, please do not use the swing to move side to side into the tree!
The other notable Bur Oak on Tappan is across from Finney Chapel. This Oak is now
dead due to Phytophthora, a soil disease. Soon, the college will remove the around 100
year old tree.
Next Stop:Dawn Redwood, walk west along College st.
Look for other Bur oaks here:

5. Chestnut Oak
Chestnut oaks are native to Ohio as well as the greater Appalachian area. This
Chestnut oak is particularly interesting due to its growth pattern. If you look up into the
tree, you will notice that the top center part of the trunk is gone. This probably happened
during a storm or heavy winds that knocked off the top part of the tree. Because of this,
the tree has to put its nutrients outwards making the branches grow farther across
rather than upwards towards the sky. Chestnut oaks are popular trees to plant in urban
areas as they are resistant to a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases many of which
exist here at Oberlin.
This is the only Chestnut oak on Tappan Square.
Next stop:Pin oak, walk northwest towards the paintedrock across from King and look
at the map below.

6. Dawn Redwood
Dawn Redwoods are native to the Pacitive coast of the United States. Their leaves grow
in small groups of needle-like stems and are found opposite from each other on a
branch. You can distinguish a Dawn Redwood from a Bald Cypress from the growth of
the leaves. Dawn Redwood leaves grow opposite on the branch and Bald Cypress
leaves grow alternately.
Next stop:American Sycamore, walk west and look atthe map below.
Look for more Dawn redwoods here:

7. Historic American Elm
This Elm was a 5-inch sapling in 1833 when the college and town of Oberlin were
founded. Legend says that the founders of Oberlin tied their horses to this tree and
saved it from being cut down because of its beauty and symmetry. The site of this elm
was the lost-and-found as well as a fish market for the college. Since 1958, it has been
the place of the United Nations flag display. This 132-year-old elm was removed on
April 13, 1965 due to Dutch elm disease, an illness brought from European settlers
through the import of lumber.
An etching of the historic elm done in 1860.
Next Stop:Scotch pine, walk west and follow the mapbelow.

8. Pin Oak
The Pin oaks are native to the Midwest. These trees are planted because they are so
fast growing. This one in particular is only 60-70 years old but is one of the taller, bigger
trees on Tappan. The name Pin oak comes from the shape of its branches. This tree is
known for being resilient towards diseases and wet conditions.
Next Stop:Swamp White Oak, walk northeast and followthe map below.
Look for other Pin oaks here:

9. River Birch
River birches are native to this area but are mostly found in the southeastern parts of
the United States. This grove of River birch provides gentle shade to this corner of
Tappan. These trees are known for being fast growing and resistant to disease and
tolerant of warm temperatures. This semi-aquatic tree also doesn’t mind the wet Ohio
winters.
Next Stop:Chestnut oak, walk southwest and checkout the map below.
Look for other River birches here:

10. Red Oak
Red oaks are native to this area and much of the northern United States. This tree was
planted in 1867, making it one of the oldest trees still standing on the square. This tree
is particularly cool because it has a noticeable twist in its trunk that was caused by
heavy winds during a storm. This tree is an example of the lasting impact that events of
time have on the growth and wellbeing of a tree. Red oaks can live for a very long time
and require a lot of sun to grow.
Next Stop:The Historic American Elm, walk to thesoutheast corner of Tappan near
downtown and follow the map below.
Look for other Red oaks here:

11. Scotch Pine
This historic Scotch Pine was just taken down by the college due to Diplodia Tip Blight, a common fungal
disease. Many fungal and bacterial diseases now impacted most of the trees on Tappan Square. While
many diseases will not kill a tree, some of them are harmful enough to kill the tree over time, which is
what happened to this tree.
This pine was 132 years old which you can see from the number of rings on the trunk slice. You can see
that in this pine’s early years, it was growing well and fast as the rings are farther spaced apart. In recent
years, this tree has had a harder time growing. In the next few weeks, the college plans to carve the
letters O B E R L I N into this historic pine in an attempt to salvage and memorialize this tree. Scotch
pine’s are recognizable for their unique orange flaky bark and are native to northern Europe and northern
Asia.
Historic image of this Scotch pine looking North across campus.
Next stop:Bur oak, walk west and follow the map below.
Locate other Scotch pines on Tappan Square here:

12. Swamp White Oak
These trees are native to this area including the rest of North-eastern states across the US and
southern states of Canada. This Swamp white oak appears in some of the earliest records of
trees on Tappan Square. This tree is especially cool because you can see where the tree was
struck by lightning. Follow the trunk to the northwest side of the tree and look up to see a long
vertical crack running along the tree to see the lightning strike. This tree also has interesting
decay along the trunk and you can see how the tree is attempting to isolate and cover the
decayed area with more wood from its trunk.
Next Stop:Red oak, walk northwest and follow themap below.
Look for other Swamp white oaks here: