ASCUTNEY — The original goal of Tuesday night’s meeting at the Ascutney Fire Station was to discuss the removal of a dying maple tree that memorializes the life of Vermont farmer Romaine Tenney. But community members were not buying it — they want the tree to stay.
In 1964, government officials notified Tenney that his land would be taken under eminent domain in order to extend Interstate 91 through Vermont. But Tenney didn’t plan on obliging.
The day police served him the notice to turn over his land, Ginger Wimberg of the Weathersfield Historical Society recounted at the meeting, Tenney let his animals loose and set fire to his home and barn, barricading himself inside. Wimberg said the government offered him more than $10,000 for the land on more than one occasion. But Tenney wouldn’t give it up.
The century-old maple tree is all that’s left of Tenney’s farm. It stands next to a commuter parking lot off I-91 near Exit 8 owned by the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
The agency is worried the dying tree could topple when cold weather hits, potentially injuring people or damaging cars in the parking area, Kyle Obenauer, historic preservation specialist for VTrans, told about 50 community members on Tuesday. VTrans also had the tree evaluated by and arborist, who found it posed a dangerous risk because of its decay.
“It’s a tough decision for us. We don’t want to remove it,” Obenauer said. “But our priority is safety.”
He opened the discussion by asking for attendees’ views on VTrans’ original plan — removing the tree and replacing it with a commemorative plaque honoring Tenney’s memory.
The pushback from local residents was immediate and forceful. Following the meeting, Obenauer said in an interview that VTrans would likely reconsider taking the tree down and work to keep it standing by trimming back branches. However, the tree would probably have to come down eventually, he said.
Opposition to the plan came from local residents and surviving members of Tenney’s family.
“This tree is the last living reminder of what was here,” community member John Arrison said. “Put a fence around it, do what you need to do, trim it up. Let it die by itself rather than by the chainsaw.”
Dylan Romaine Tenney, one of Romaine Tenney’s nephews, also urged the agency to leave the tree standing because of its special connection to his relatives alive today.
“It breaks my heart,” Dylan said. “We deserve an apology.”
Others see the removal of the tree as a continuation of what they believe is the injustice government agencies inflicted upon Tenney in 1964. Dave Fuller, a resident of Perkinsville, said he shares Tenney’s pain. Recently Fuller was forced by economic conditions to sell his cows.
“You said early on you wanted to find a way to honor Romaine Tenney. You can’t,” Fuller said. “I’m telling you as a farmer I felt the same way when my cows left. You can’t do it. And the town can’t do it. You took something from him.”
While a majority of the community members were opposed to removal of the tree, ideas were floated about how to preserve it. Some suggested taking seeds from the maple and replanting them in the spring. Others shared research they had found about how older trees had been brought back to a healthy state elsewhere using methods VTrans could replicate.
Obenauer said the tree removal of the tree was expected to take place soon because of the impending arrival of wintry weather, which garnered more skepticism about why community members weren’t alerted sooner. Obenauer said the arborist report detailing the tree’s condition became available in early summer, prompting more criticism.
“Shame on you for waiting so long to call this meeting when you knew you were going to make this decision,” said Deforest Bearse of Ascutney.
Obenauer said the agency will make an announcement in the coming weeks about whether to proceed.
Correction: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect surname for one of the speakers at the meeting. He is John Arrison.
