(Brownsville, Oregon) The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee invite the public to participate in the induction of the Moyer House Linden Wisteria into the Oregon Heritage Tree program. The event will take place on Friday, April 26 at noon on the front grounds of the Historic Moyer House at 204 N Main St, Brownsville, Oregon 97327.
The Moyer House Linden / Wisteria, scientific name Tilia americana/ Wisteria floribunda, is the 83rd Oregon Heritage Tree, a designation that recognizes trees with statewide or national significance. The linden tree is 90 inches in circumference and the wisteria vine 135 inches. The pair is approximately 55 ft tall and estimated to be 143 years old.
Speakers at the event include representatives from Linn County Parks and Recreation and Craig Leech, chair of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee.
The Moyer House wisteria and its companion linden tree display a unique partnership that have become a landmark to the Brownsville community, as well as a unique addition to the Oregon Heritage Tree Program. The two were planted concurrently in the northeast corner of the Moyer House front garden as seen in historic photos starting in 1882. The tree and vine are entwined in one another with the wisteria relying on the linden for support. In the spring, wisteria blossoms are profuse, popping out everywhere amongst the linden branches.
Elizabeth Brown (1841-1922) arrived in the Calapooia Valley via the 1846 Blakely-Brown wagon train, captained by her uncle James Blakely. John Moyer (1829-1904), a carpenter from Ohio, arrived by horseback in 1852 after a journey of just three months. The two married in 1857 and raised their children in a humbler home on the property where the much grander Moyer House now stands. John gained wealth in lumber, cattle, a sash and door factory, and early businesses investments.
They built the showpiece 1881 Moyer House to display their success. Formal landscaping adorned the front garden, which included the linden and wisteria, facing Main Street. The tree and vine have grown to enormous size over the course of 142 years. The Moyer House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 as an example of an Italianate home.
“More than 130 years later, the two venerable specimens dominate the property, reflecting the passing seasons and reminding visitors of the impacts of the immense 1880s westward migration and subsequent transformation of the valley,” said Stacey Whaley, Linn County Parks Director.
Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Craig Leech encourages the public to visit the Moyer House Linden and wisteria. “Visiting an Oregon Heritage Tree is a chance to learn localized Oregon history and honor the vital role trees play in giving character to our urban spaces and building community pride. The Moyer House Linden / Wisteria has become a landmark in Brownsville and a unique addition to the Oregon Heritage Tree Program.”
The tree dedication will take place and noon and kick-off an afternoon open house at the historic Moyer House to honor the completed restoration of the home. Volunteers will be on hand from noon until 4pm to answer visitor questions about the house. The event is free and open to the public.
The Moyer House Linden Wisteria can be viewed on city property at 204 N Main St, Brownsville, Oregon 97327. Tours of the interior of the house begin in the museum lobby at specific hours on Saturdays. Updated tour times and information can be found at: https://linnparks.com/museums/the-moyer-house/
The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees.
The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee are pleased to announce the 2024 Oregon Heritage Tree Award winners.
“The award recipients have done an exceptional job engaging communities about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon’s history told through trees and forests,” said Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Craig Leech. “The recipients range from volunteers to professionals who use their time and talents to better our communities.”
Maynard Drawson Memorial Award
The Maynard Drawson Memorial Award was created to honor a native of Oregon and a veteran of World War II who was best known as a tree advocate. Drawson led a campaign in the 1970s to preserve the Valley of the Giants, and in 1995 helped launch the Oregon Heritage Tree Program, the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. This award recognizes exceptional, meritorious, and extraordinary work promoting the appreciation of trees over an extended period.
2024 Winner
- Phyllis Reynolds of Portland for being a founding member of the Portland Heritage Tree Program, a published author, including two editions of Trees of Greater Portland and Hoyt Arboretum, It’s Story, a long-time urban Forestry Commissioner for the City of Portland, and close friend of Hoyt Arboretum. Phyllis has inspired generations of tree advocates through her books and volunteerism.
Heritage Tree Heroes of the Year Award
The Heritage Tree Heros of the Year Award recognizes individuals and groups who are engaging communities through education about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon’s history told through trees and forests.
2024 Winners:
- Giana Bernardini of Philomath for being the driving force behind the creation of the City of Philomath’s Heritage Tree Program.
- Nancy Broshot of Oregon City for leading the revision of municipal code to remove the arborist report requirement for Heritage Tree status and making the program more accessible to community members.
- Mike Oxendine of Talent for his tireless commitment to assisting heritage tree projects including Hiroshima Peace Tree plantings and assessing heritage tree health.
Award winners will be honored at local events in April during Arbor Month.
The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees.
(Clatskanie, Oregon) The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee, along with the Oregon Department of Forestry, invite the public to participate in the induction of the Northrup Creek Horse Camp Big Tree Trail into the Oregon Heritage Tree Program. The event will take place on Friday, April 12 at 11 a.m. at the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northrup Creek Horse Camp, address: 87644 Northrup Creek Road, Clatskanie, Oregon, 97016.
The Northrup Creek Horse Camp Big Tree Trail and its centerpiece Grand fir, scientific name Abies grandis, is the 84th Oregon Heritage Tree, a designation that recognizes trees with statewide or national significance. The giant grand fir is 19.8 feet in circumference, 208 feet tall, and approximately 200 years old.
Speakers at the event include an ODF forester and the chair of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee.
The Northrup Creek Horse Camp Big Tree Trail is located inside what used to be The Northrup Creek Grazing Experiment. The Experiment started in 1936 to study the seeding, fertilizing, grazing, and management of logged-off and burned-over timberlands and the effects of grazing on reforestation. The goal was to make burnt-up land profitable again. The project was overseen by the John Jacob Astor Experiment Station outside of Astoria and continued until the early 1950s.
The Experiment ultimately “failed” as it determined grazing was not the solution for burned over timber lands. However, in 1939 Governor Charles Sprague notably gave a stump speech in the area while he was actively promoting the State Forest Acquisition Act. The legislation included conservation requirements for loggers to re-seed the forest by leaving seed trees and reforestation efforts for burned areas, particularly those affected by the repeated Tillamook burns of 1933, 1939, and 1945.
Former Clatsop County Judge Guy Boyington, one of the original framers of the state forest arrangement, envisioned that the foreclosed lands could be made productive if forest land management was available. Clatsop County became the first county to participate.
Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Craig Leech encourages the public to visit the Big Tree Trail. “Visiting an Oregon Heritage Tree is a chance to learn localized Oregon history and honor the vital role Oregon’s forests play in our lives. In addition to viewing a sample of exceptional trees, The Big Tree Trail’s connection to the creation of Oregon’s modern forestry program makes it particularly notable.”
Brad Catton, the Astoria District Operations Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Forestry adds, “The Department of Forestry created the Big Tree Trail in 2012 when they identified numerous large conifer and deciduous trees in close proximity to one another. Inducting the Big Tree Trail as an Oregon Heritage Tree helps honor this special trail of trees that are believed to be among the top five largest in the state. The public can also learn about Governor Sprague’s legacy regarding the state’s forestry rules.”
You can visit the Big Tree Trail inside the Northrup Creek Horse Camp, located between Jewell and Birkenfeld four miles north of Hwy 202. The trail is just under one mile and is open year-round for hiking. Hikers must start at the gate during the seasonal closure of the camp, which adds two miles.
The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees.