Granby’s Dewey Oak, 2021. photo: Emma Koss
In this episode, Dr. Leah Glaser and students from her 2021 Public History class at Central Connecticut State University present stories about the state’s witness trees—a project that evolved out of a semester-long class about local and community history. Trees are central characters in the state’s history, myths, and legends. They witnessed the changing environmental, political, social, economic, and cultural landscape for decades and even centuries.
What’s a witness tree, you ask? Find out in this episode of Grating the Nutmeg.
LISTEN HERE
Dr. Glaser wrote “Trees as Memorials and Witnesses to History,” Spring 2021. She is a professor at Central Connecticut State University and Coordinator of the Public History Program. Her 2021 class researched tree stories and each student presented one story on the podcast. Contact her at glaserles@ccsu.edu
(top left) CT Explored’s Mary Donohue and (to her right) Prof. Leah Glaser listening to Glaser’s students present their findings on some of Connecticut’s most important trees.
Min. 3:40 — Mashantucket: The Mashantucket Pequots and the Rhododendron by Andy King
Min. 7:53 — Simsbury’s Pinchot Sycamore by David Prochorena
Min. 11:55 — Hartford: The Witch Tree and the Hartford Witch Trials by Helena Torres Diaz
Min. 15:50 — Coventry: Nathan Hale Pear Tree by Despina Merriman
Min. 19:50 — Easton: Puritans to Patriots, Ye Olde Oak by Gregory Franklin
Min. 22:50 — Torrington: John Brown’s Tree by Cameron Clarke
Min. 26:26 — Farmington: Teddy Roosevelt and the McKinley Tree by Grayson Belisle
Min. 30:22 — Granby: Land Stewardship and the Dewey Oak by Emma Koss
Min. 35:47 — Windham: WWII Patriotism and Arbor Day by Valerie Chase
Min. 39:39 — Hartford: The Old Oak Tree and the Coltsville Labor Strike by Benjamin Johnson
Min. 44:05 — Hartford: Blue Cedars and the Rural Cemetery Movement, Hartford by Kaitlyn Oberndorfer
Min. 48:47 — New Haven: The Cypress Tree Mystery at Edgewood Park by Patricia Wallace
Min. 54:40 — Clinton: The Chestnut Oak and Shipbuilding on the Connecticut Shoreline by Garrett Saranich
Min. 57:22 — Madison: The Black Cherry Tree Oversees Seaport to Coastal Gateway by Ben Haberman
Min. 1:01: 16 — Hartford: Of Hickory and Baseball by Tom Ieronimo
Dr. Glaser wrote “Trees as Memorials and Witnesses to History,” Spring 2021. She is a professor at Central Connecticut State University and Coordinator of the Public History Program. Her 2021 class researched tree stories and each student presented one story on the podcast. Contact her at glaserles@ccsu.edu. This episode was produced by Leah Glaser and Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan.
Read More!
“Trees as Memorials and Witnesses to History,” Spring 2021
“Site Lines: Connecticut State Parks at 100,” Summer 2013
“Cherry Trees for Wooster Square,” Winter 2013/2014
“Wickham Park in Manchester,” Spring 2003
“Connecticut’s Historic Rose Gardens,” Winter 2017/2018 and see Episode 115
Other Resources:
Hartford’s historic trees, Hartford Preservation Alliance
https://hartfordpreservation.org/ccsu-tree-history/
Connecticut Notable Tree Project
“Witch Elm,” Albany Avenue, Hartford, 1930. Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library
Pinchot Sycamore, Simsbury. photo: Leah Glaser
Site where the Nathan Hale pear tree would have been, Coventry, April 2021. photo: Despina Merriman