Trees lining historic Mizzou quad being uprooted in name of safety
The noble trees are being replaced by a white oak species that will live for more than 200 years
Trees lining historic Mizzou quad being uprooted in name of safety
The noble trees are being replaced by a white oak species that will live for more than 200 years.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ask any alumni from the University of Missouri-Columbia what the most iconic place on campus is, and the Francis Quadrangle would dominate the responses.
Many of the college's oldest buildings border the quad's historic columns — all that remains of Academic Hall which was destroyed by fire in 1892. They stand tall on lush turf and are surrounded by colorful flowerbeds. It's also a popular location to unwind and take in all the beauty of the 183-year-old campus.
The Francis Quadrangle, columns and main building, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
(Carol M. Highsmith / Getty Images)
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Another part of that rich history is 15 of the remaining original 26 pin oaks framing the quad. They were planted as saplings and are now dying. Some have succumbed to diseases common in pin oaks. For others, their lifespan was somewhat shortened by damage caused when an irrigation system was installed in the 1990s, the university said.
As the project to remove the trees gets underway on Wednesday, the second oak tree falls in front of Jesse Hall at Francis Quadrangle. The new trees that will be planted are around six years old and will be much shorter.
(Courtesy: Maggie Lenox / Columbia Missourian )
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"For more than 70 years the pin oak trees have stood guard and provided a beautiful backdrop for the columns and historic buildings here," said Michael Graves, associate vice chancellor for facilities. "However, these noble trees have reached the end of their natural lifespan and are a potential safety hazard to pedestrians and buildings. Replacing them is essential to the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors."
Laurie Wern protests the removal of trees on Wednesday at Francis Quadrangle. Wern believed that the project should have been staggered over a decade instead of a few weeks.
(Courtesy: Maggie Lenox / Columbia Missourian )
Campus officials said the only truly long-term fix was to replace the pin oaks with something better adapted to the current conditions of the quad. New Legacy Oaks of the Francis Quadrangle will now be planted.
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Students with the School of Natural Resources learn from Hank Steltzer and Chris Starbuck as the prune the Legacy Oaks at MU South Farm Research Center, March 17, 2022.
(University of Missouri)
They were donated by College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources alumni Wayne Lovelace and his daughter Kim Lovelace-Hainsfurther in 2019 and grown at MU’s South Farm. The white oak species will live for more than 200 years and have the longest lifespan of the oaks.
It took four years with the help of the Mizzou Botanic Garden, faculty and staff experts, and arborists from outside the university to develop a plan to replace the aging trees to maintain the quad's historic look.
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"Universities are a dynamic place, and their grounds and facilities are always changing," said Bill Ruppert, Mizzou Botanic Garden board member and former Mizzou employee. "But the quad is the one place on campus I can come back to and have it feel the same as it was when I was on campus all those years ago. The Legacy Oaks project is going to ensure students 200 years from now have that same experience."
Moo Key clears the fallen branches Wednesday at Francis Quadrangle. The 15 oak trees that are being removed surrounding the quad are over 70 years old and have been flagged for decay and stress.
(Courtesy: Maggie Lenox / Columbia Missourian )
The remaining pin oaks will be removed between May 18 and June 3. Once removed, the university said they will determine if any part is salvageable and then figure out what can be done with the wood.
The new white oaks will be planted over the summer. All the trees will be planted at the same time, the university said, so they grow at relatively the same rate.
If you’d like to support the Legacy Oaks of the Francis Quadrangle, click here.
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