By Chris Spangler
Evergreen Cemetery is living up to its name again, thanks to the 29 trees and bushes that have replaced those destroyed in the storm that ravaged Fort Atkinson on July 28.
Straight-line winds reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour blew down or damaged 60 to 70 trees in the Northside cemetery that night, and left approximately 7,000 Fort Atkinson households and businesses without electricity.
In the wake of the storm, cemetery grounds supervisor Raughn Ferrell had estimated that it could cost as much as $1,400 to remove each damaged tree, amounting to $60,000 to $70,000 alone for tree and stump removal. Local residents, businesses and organizations stepped forward, contributing more than $42,000, including $10,000 from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation.
“It took us three to four weeks to get things cleaned up, and then we started looking toward replacing trees,” Evergreen Cemetery Association board President Brad Wilcox said. “We’ve purchased trees from K&W Greenery in Janesville, Blodgett Pet and Garden Center in Fort Atkinson and Paul’s Turf and Tree Nursery in Marshall. We’ve purchased 27 trees and two arbor vitae.”
They include Norway spruce, red maple, Cleveland pear, ginkgo, white pine, bur oak, Colorado blue spruce and hydrangea trees. All are fairly mature, measuring 12 to 14 feet in height.
“We’re trying to make up for the ones we lost, so they’re a little bigger (than seedlings),” Ferrell said.
“A total 77 trees were destroyed or damaged, and 30 were taken out thus far. We still have stumps to grind,” he added.
Wilcox said that the cemetery association anticipates planting at least five more trees, likely in the spring.
“Echo Tree Service of Madison may provide us with some trees. We have a relationship with that company because they spray our blue spruce trees for needle cast and also are treating our bur oak tree,” he said.
The most recent plantings took place on a drizzly Thursday, Oct. 26. Trees delivered by Paul’s Turf and Tree were placed in pre-dug holes that were to be filled in this week.
“At least they’re in the hole, level for now,” cemetery head sexton Neal Traeder said that day. “We can take our time, let the (root balls) dry out. Then we can put the dirt around them instead of mud around them right now. We can scrape the dirt off the grass next week.”
He noted that the crew has tried to plant the trees near where the mature ones came down, but they can’t always use the exact spots due to the root system and grave markers’ locations.
Ferrell reported that all of the trees were purchased on sale, many discounted due to the lateness of the planting season.
“We’ve probably spent, in reality, $20,000 on trees already and we’re not done yet,” he said.
Even with the $42,000 in donations, more money will be needed. Wilcox said insurance does not pay for tree removal or the damaged fences, and the stumps from the downed trees still need grinding,
He noted that there were 28 of the 30 headstones damaged in the storm have been repaired so far. The storm also damaged a lot of urns.
Wilcox said that monetary contributions continue to be greatly appreciated. Checks may be sent to the Evergreen Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 218, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538.
“We would like to thank everyone for their donations,” Farrell said, adding that people also may purchase specific types of trees for the cemetery.
New flagpole slated
Meanwhile, trees and markers were not the only cemetery features damaged July 28.
“The storm destroyed the flagpole in the Soldiers Circle, and so that’s being replaced, but we are kind of unsure where the money is coming from,” Wilcox said. “We’re also building a new wall and steps that will go next to the flag.”
To be located across from the road just east of the Soldiers Circle, the flagpole’s wall and step will be a match, albeit smaller, to the one built at the memorial court. Creative Landscapes plans to construct it in November.
“We had a very large white pine that came down. We also had a bur oak come down and our largest cedar tree came down, all in that one location,” Wilcox said, noting that the the split-trunk white pine alone stood about 90 feet tall and its removal left “massive sky.”
“It’s a big wide open sky, so we are going to replace those three trees with this flagpole and the landscaped wall, he added.
In the future, the cemetery association hopes to have some of the tall trunks of topped trees carved into statues. Again, that would depend on finances, and donations will be accepted for that project.
“We’ve had quite the summer at Evergreen Cemetery,” Farrell said.
“One we ain’t going to forget,” Traeder added.
Photos taken as trees were delivered to the cemetery on Thursday, Oct. 26, follow.
Photos by Chris Spangler unless otherwise indicated.
A Colorado blue spruce is planted at Evergreen Cemetery.
Two photos above: Employees of Paul’s Turf and Tree Nursery in Marshall deliver a Norway spruce for planting at Evergreen Cemetery. Still on the truck for delivery is a Colorado blue spruce.
Two photos above: A pair of Cleveland pear trees find a home in Evergreen Cemetery.
A red maple is among trees recently planted.
Brad Wilcox, cemetery association president, from left; an employee of Paul’s Turf and Tree; Raughn Ferrell, cemetery grounds supervisor; an employee of Paul’s Turf and Tree, and Neal Traeder, cemetery head sexton work together as the cemetery receives a tree delivery.
A bur oak tree is in need of care and cleanup. The photo was taken on Aug. 15, following a storm that moved through the area in July. Cleanup efforts have since been underway to return the cemetery to a condition prior to the storm. Contributed/Brad Wilcox.
The sun shines through the branches of a tree. The tree was among those still standing after the July storm. The cemetery moved closer to its original condition following cleanup efforts. Contributed/Brad Wilcox.
A red maple shows its fall colors. The tree was among those lost in the storm which moved through the area in July. A replacement is slated for planting in the former tree’s location, according to cemetery staff. Contributed/Brad Wilcox.
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It’s great that the cemetery association is doing all the replacement of trees and other beautification projects, but let’s not forget the perpetual flower urns that must be filled and not left with a lonely spike. Your obligations should be filled before other projects. Thank you