As I worked on the final draft of the national register nomination for Southwood Park on a fine, sunny, April day, my concentration was interrupted by the sound of chain saws. My neighbor had hired a company to remove two healthy shagbark hickory trees in their back yard. This is against the covenants of the Southwood Park Community Association that have been in place since the development of the subdivision by Hilgeman & Schaaf in 1917. The preservation of trees is a significant feature of the neighborhood, and their loss affects the historic integrity.
Excerpts from the National Register Nomination:
“Much of the Southwood Park Historic District was platted with deed restrictions and covenants, including setback and utility easements, as well as several novel items not commonly found in others developments in Fort Wayne at that time. A concern for the existing flora and fauna and unique topography of the site, as well as adaptations to automobiles are reflected in several of the provisions, such as the conservation of trees and regulations involving grading of lots.”
“The Company reserved the right to establish the grading for each lot; and forbade the removal of trees: ‘No trees while in good condition shall be cut down, destroyed or mutilated, except as may be necessary for the construction of a dwelling house and its appertunances.’”
“The woodland trees present at the development of Southwood Park are still present. Dominant native species include white and red oaks, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, poplar and other upland hardwoods. Large numbers of american elm were lost during the mid-twentieth century. The site/system of mature, hardwood trees throughout the Southwood Park Historic District constitutes a contributing site in the district.”
“Hilgeman & Schaaf incorporated on March 28, 1912, and included Frank H. Hilgeman, Albert H. Schaaf and Harry H. Hilgemann as directors and incorporators. These Fort Wayne natives had expertise in different fields, yet shared an interest in community growth and development, design, and conservation of landscape resources. Frank Hilgeman was born in 1873, in Allen County, and his brothers included circuit court judge Harry H. Hilgemann and Dr. Victor H. Hilgemann. [Frank Hilgeman dropped the final “n” of his name as an adult] All were prominent citizens of Fort Wayne, and strong advocates for conservation of natural areas. In 1922 Harry and Victor Hilgemann led the formation of the Allen County Chapter of the Isaac Walton League.”
“In July, 1917, Carl Getz, the City Forester and Superintendent of the Fort Wayne Parks Department resigned his position to become an employee of Hilgeman & Schaaf, bringing administration skills to the organization, as well as expertise in landscape gardening and forestry. Getz was a1912 graduate of Purdue in Forestry… His expertise in arboriculture also would serve the company well, as he helped to determine which trees would be retained as the roads were laid out…Hilgeman & Schaaf also secured the services of civil engineer Adolf Hofer, a 1916 graduate of Purdue University, and native of Fort Wayne.”
“Hofer and Getz arranged the lots to maximize retention of mature trees in wooded sections, and to create grand parkway boulevards where land had already been cleared. They incorporated the use of variable park strips, wide triangular open park spaces, island open park spaces, and a variable building line to achieve the outstanding park-like setting of the subdivision.”
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When tree removal is necessary in Southwood Park, a plan should be developed for replacing the lost assets. As the consultant hired by the City of Fort Wayne to document the historic significance of the Southwood Park Historic District, I urge the Southwood Park Community Association to mandate that replacements of similar species be planted whenever trees are removed. Wildwood Park –the only other historic neighborhood in northeastern Indiana known to have covenants protecting the trees–is currently creating a formal regulation regarding the number, size and species of trees to be planted when their mature trees are lost. In order to maintain historic woodland trees, Southwood Park should create a similar plan.
posted by Angie
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