It is with great sadness that I inform the campus of the necessity to remove one of our beloved mature trees on campus, especially one that has a place in the historic lore of Goshen College. The tree I’m referring to is located just north of the Administration Building, by the walkway that leads to the Dining Hall. There is a large crack that has developed in the “V crotch” of this tree and professional arborists have advised us to take the entire tree down immediately, before it leafs out fully and thus has even more pressure on the main branch, which is cracking. The reason for this recommendation is personal safety. We have been advised not to pursue other alternatives, such as taking down only part of the tree, etc.

The photos here show the tree and the developing crack on the right-most main fork, just above the place where you see a recently sawed area where a large branch was removed. Physical Plant has posted warning barriers near this tree and you are encouraged to take an alternate route around the tree, using the sidewalk directly in front of Kulp Hall, instead of the one that runs directly past that tree.

Plans currently are to remove this tree on Monday or Tuesday of next week. This tree will be replaced with a new tree in the same location, but it will be many years until the new tree will be the size of this existing historical landmark. Many of you know this is the tree that was our prognosticator of spring during the annual SAP celebrations during the early part of this decade. If you don’t know that story please ask someone to tell you about it. It is those kinds of memories of the beauty and joys of ‘life that was’ which we all need to remember as we grieve the passing of any and all of our loved ones, whether they be human or animal or trees. This tree has enriched the lives of many decades of Goshen College students, faculty/staff and visitors, and we are greatly saddened to have to remove it. 

Space Planning Committee made the final decision today on removing this tree, after consultations with our own Craig Johnson and Bill Minter, as well as the strong and clear recommendation of the professional arborists. If you have any questions, please direct them to me or any other space planning committee members (Clay Shetler, Melissa Kinsey, Merrill Krabill, Jonny West, Bill Born, Anita Stalter, Jim Histand).  

– Jim Histand, Vice President for Finance