By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The tree parts from the Roosevelt-Higgins Oak that until recently stood in Lincoln Park, that were promised to the Olean Historical and Preservation Society have gone missing.
Historical Society President Steve Teachman expressed disappointment when contacted by the Olean Star on Tuesday that the city had not saved the bottom 10 feet of the 119-year-old oak to preserve the memory of the ceremony when it was planted by President Theodore Roosevelt and New York Gov. Frank W. Higgins of Olean.
Teachman, a Cattaraugus County legislator, had asked the Olean Common Council if the bottom 10-12 feet of the tree trunk could be saved for a monument when the tree was being removed as a danger because it appeared to be dying. He left the meeting thinking it would be saved for a monument to be carved by Eric Jones.
Later, aldermen decided to push for its complete removal because of possible vandalism. The city was supposed to save the bottom part of the tree and hail it to the nearby Higgins Carriage House for storage until it could be carved.
Teaachman expressed disappointment at that time that the bottom of the tree couldn’t be saved where it stood. Now he’s even more disappointed that the only remaining parts of the tree are several four-foot sections in the city’s Front Street yard waste site.
“They were supposed to remove the tree on Feb. 18,” Teachman said. He got a call from his wife on Feb. 12 that it looked like National Grid had already started cutting the tree down. “They didn’t leave anything standing. They didn’t save the 10-foot section they said they would.”
Alderman Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, suggested saving portions of the trunk to build park benches.
Teachman said Mayor William J. Aiello thought the tree had been saved and taken to the carriage house.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Teachman said. “We’re not done with it yet.” Teachman admitted to being frustrated at not being able to follow through on the historical society’s original plans. “They forgot to tell me they were cutting it down. It’s done,” he said. “We’ll work with what we have.”
Teachman said Jones, the West Clarksville sculptor, estimated the base of the tree was 15 feet around. “It’s was a big tree.” He had first envisioned the 10 feet of the tree trunk remaining being carved by Jones on site, which would also draw crowds of people to watch. Then he looked forward to having the monument carved at the carriage house.
“It would have been unique — one of a kind,” Teachman said. “It’s not over. I just don’t know what we’re going to do yet.”
