The Life of a Copper Beech
by Sabrina C. Mashburn
Although he is best known for being
the Superintendent of the development of New York City’s 843-acre
Central Park, Frederick Law Olmstead also made his mark on the town
of Islip by way of his planting a Copper Beech Tree. In 1857, the
same year as his appointment as Central Park Superintendent, Olmstead
planted a Copper Beach Tree sapling on the Atwood family estate.
More than 100 years later, the tree was spending its life in the
yard of an eight-lot subdivision on site of the former estate. Although
the Atwood family still owned and lived in the subdivision, they
had wanted to chop the tree down on numerous occasions. However,
the Town of Southampton considered the tree a historical landmark
and forbade the family to cut it down. In 2006, the ancient tree’s
health began to fail. Despite the efforts of Theresa Donahue, a
resident of the subdivision, to save the tree, it passed away in
January of 2007. John Donahue, Mrs. Donahue’s son, knew that
his mother was “attached to the tree.” As a tribute
to the tree and consolation for his mother, John decided to find
someone who could take whatever good wood was left of the tree and
make a small table for her to keep as a remembrance of the tree
she loved and tried to save. When he contacted Anthony Szalkowski
of New England Woodworking in Speonk, the master craftsman decided
to take a chance and help the family cut down the mammoth tree.
In order to cut the fourteen-foot-long and fourteen-foot-wide trunk,
Szalkowski purchased a $2,800 Alaskan chainsaw. “A lot of
trees die from the inside out,” explained John, “but
this tree was solid all the way through – it was perfect inside.”
Soon, John and Anthony’s plans for the tree grew grander than
trying to piece together a table for John’s mother. This enormous
tree, now “opened and beautiful,” has yielded enough
fourteen-foot-long, three-inch-wide slabs of perfect wood to use
as dining tables, kitchen cabinet facing, and wall units for a very
lucky few East Enders who want to add a little bit of New York history
to their homes.
To own a piece of this majestic tree,
please contact Anthony Szalkowski of New England Woodworking at
(631) 325-1577.
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