May 10, 2018
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP
May 10, 2018 • 5:30 p.m.
Clymer Library, 115 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, Pa.
Attendance: 37 members and 17 guests
Speakers: Ike Olson and Dick Cary — “Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Our Pocono Forests”
HATT board member Ruth Berke opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m., welcoming all who came. We had the Pledge of Allegiance.
She reminded all to send in membership dues if not done so already, and to sign up at the welcoming desk.
The next meeting will be June 14 at the Blanche Price Park (behind the Tobyhanna Township Building) and will be our annual picnic. The program will be on Pennsylvania’s governors residences, presented by David Morrison. We hope that everyone comes and joins us. We hope that having the picnic at this time, more people will be able to join us.
Please check the HATT website for programming information, minutes and archival planning groups.
Ruth then introduced the evening’s speakers — Returning to HATT were Ike Olson, owner and operator of Keystone Tree Specialists, and Dick Cary of Forestland Consulting.
Dick began with a discussion the Pennsylvania woods from the past. In the days of pre-settlement, Pennsylvania was 95 percent forested with large trees. The Native Americans would burn areas, and wind took many trees down, so there was also evidence of new growth.
Trees were mostly mixed pine and hardwood, and Dick reports that there are still pockets of virgin stands in the Allegheny National Forest (Pennsylvania's only national forest), and other places.
The Native Americans transplanted locust wood trees in Northeast Pennsylvania. They liked the wood for arrows ,and we can still see its growth today.
By 1929, much of the land was cleared for farming (although it was not very productive, given the high rock/stone content of the soil). There were also places that were completely barren and still are; Dick pointed out the plateau by the race track.
Our present day forests are basically the same, with smaller stands of hemlock and pine, although the composition is different. By 1930 only about 30 percent of Northeast Pennsylvania was forested. However, with the decline in farming, we are at 58 to 60 percent forested today.
Dick also pointed out that there is a critical need for new growth in order to sustain our forests. He also reminds us that the forest is ever changing, even when we have great pockets of rock beds which he says offers us special vegetation only found in northern territories (Canada). Currently, the wind affects more of the forest, downing more trees than milling or cutting.
Ike Olson began with quite a large “museum” type presentation of pictures and examples of wood cuttings. He explained the history of forestation in Northeast Pennsylvania and the changes that have occurred over the years.
He demonstrated tree grow both healthy and diseased.
After many questions the meeting was wrapped up at 6:45.
A thank you certificate was given to each of our presenters.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Rapp, Secretary
