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Westmont’s American Elms
by Robert A. Batey
Public Works Director, Westmont Borough
The American elm, once very common in Europe and America, is a tough, tolerant tree. It can withstand road salt, pollution, physical damage and lightning strike, and can live 150-200 years. It is easy to raise, growing rapidly up to 100 feet in height and close to that in breadth. Years ago the elm was valued for its lumber, since it was a very strong wood and difficult to split. It was used for farm implements and wagon wheels, particularly the hub of the wheel, because it would not wear out. The bark of the American elm has a craggy, cork-like rough texture that contains strong fibers from which the Indians wove their rope. About the only enemy the American elm had was the plague of Dutch Elm Disease that brought it low in the middle years of this century.
The Borough of Westmont has 195 elms planted on Luzerne Street and 15 on various other streets in the borough. Some trees also exist on private property. There are approximately 3,200 shade trees on Borough property that are cared for by the Borough. In 1994, $30,000 was budgeted for care of approximately 210 elms, and $52,000 was budgeted for planting and maintenance of all other trees.
The stand of Luzerne Street elms--the longest municipally owned stand of American elms east of the Mississippi--is nearly 3,200 feet long. It is the last cathedral-arched boulevard left in the U. S., of which there were once many. The cathedral-arch effect is the most significant feature of the American elm.
Although it was most common in New England, the Middle Atlantic States, and the Midwest before Dutch Elm Disease struck, the elm was found in every state except Hawaii. The Elm Research Institute of Harrisville, N. H., of which Westmont Borough is a member, has estimated that before the plague struck there were 77 million elms; by 1976, only about 34 million remained.
The American elm is sometimes mistakenly called "The Dutch Elm" because of the disease that has devastated the species. Dutch Elm Disease was first identified by a Dutch botanist in 1919--but it was not until 1930 that the disease was identified in the U. S., in Cleveland, Ohio. The disease is a fungus in the tree’s vascular system; the fungus chokes off the vital nutrients from the root system that are carried throughout the tree. This disease is carried from tree to tree by infected European elm bark beetles and the native elm bark beetles. The European beetles are more aggressive and attack weakened trees much earlier than their native counterparts.
Westmont Borough has lost 39 trees since the late 1970’s. During these years, neighboring boroughs and townships had stands of elms that were infested with the disease, but did nothing to treat them. Since the disease is generally detected in the crown of the tree first, it was quite difficult to spot from the ground. Westmont made arrangements for a helicopter to fly over the tree tops once a week during the critical months of late May, June, July and August, looking for symptoms. The symptoms begin with a wilting of the leaves at the tips of the branches. Then they turn yellow, curl inward, and finally become brown.
In 1979, Westmont Borough was being hit hard. The Borough brought in experts from various agencies, most notably Dr. Nichols from Penn State, who was in charge of maintaining a stand of approximately 425 elms. When told how close the disease was to Westmont’s trees, Dr. Nichols warned that Westmont’s elms were really in trouble, since the air currents would blow the beetles in. The other major problem for Westmont has been that the trees were originally planted too close together, and roots from diseased trees graft to those of healthy trees. Westmont has lost some in this manner because the disease cannot be spotted until it reaches the crown of the tree. It comes up through the tree’s vascular system and by the time it is visible, it’s all through the tree. It is so treacherous that with more than 10 percent crown damage, the tree must be cut down, hauled away, and buried. Sadly, the very first tree Westmont lost was the biggest of them all. (Several years ago, the biggest elm in Pennsylvania was also lost. It was 150 years old, planted by Governor George Wolf in front of the north wing of the Capital).
Westmont Borough now follows a program that employs the best-known techniques to protect its trees. They are fed on a regular basis to keep them strong and healthy; all deadwood is removed regularly; they are sprayed four times a year; any storm damage is repaired immediately. The theory behind this program is the stronger and cleaner the tree, the less chance for a beetle attack.
For the last fifteen years, Westmont Borough has sent a letter to all Luzerne Street residents to check the trees in front of their properties and report anything out of the ordinary. In 1987, Westmont Borough for the first time planted eight newly developed disease-resistant elms on Luzerne Street. They were the result of years of research by the Elm Research Institute.
Westmont Borough now has nine trees that qualify as historic elms. To qualify, the tree must be at least 10 feet in circumference at chest height. Westmont Borough will receive a plaque to fasten to each of these trees. Over the years, the Borough has received letters and newspaper clippings from all over the country expressing admiration for Westmont’s magnificent stand of elms, and sharing advice on how other communities are working to preserve their elms.
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