Old Maple repurposed, legacy shared during Viking Days

During Viking Days, a spotlight fell on the Old Maple that used to tower outside of the Humanities building. Karie Frank, humanities coordinator, sold wooden cutting boards and bowls made from the downed tree to commemorate the legacy of the over 100-year-old being.

The tree was toppled to restructure the Augustana Green in May 2022. During the period following the announcement of the tree’s impending removal, divisions formed on campus, Frank said.

Steven Matzner, biology professor and adviser of Augie Green, explained that attempts were made to clone the tree. Because Old Maple was felled in the summer, and its seeds are required to clone, the process was unsuccessful.

Frank said that some professors were fond of the tree, and when it was downed, many of them stood on the green and watched the tree fall. Frank also said many students and alumni argued to keep Old Maple.

“There was just a lot of sentimentality,” Frank said.

From backlash and argument came a compromise: following Old Maple’s removal, parts of the tree would be used to enrich the campus. 

During the removal processes, the maple tree was cut into usable pieces which have been turned into bowls, cutting boards, a bench and a table – all of which were for sale during Viking Days. 

Because the Office of Sustainability funded the Old Maple Tree project, Frank said that funds from sales would go back to the Office of Sustainability, though its purpose goes beyond fundraising.

“It is our hope that this project helps alumni and others related to the university develop a deeper connection to the living campus that we share,” David O’Hara, the director of sustainability and environmental studies said.

Throughout the process, past alumni and members of the Siouxland Woodturners Association reached out to Frank – who acted as coordinator for the project – to help the Maple Tree project. Many individuals came together to donate their time and energy, from cutting wood slabs to designing and creating wooden pieces. 

Individuals included alumnus Ben Parsley – who milled the wood into the slabs, rounds and logs – and Shannon Storm – who made charcuterie and cutting boards. The Siouxland Woodturners Association assisted by crafting Old Maple’s heartwood into bowls, vases, writing pins and a table.

New students also pitched in during a service project that fulfilled first year seminar requirements. Freshman Ashlyn Brady helped to move the tree bark to gardens on campus and became frustrated when she heard about the tree’s fate. 

“[It’s] so [easy] to get rid of history, just because it’s not your history,” Brady said.

Aside from the heartwood, other parts of Old Maple have been used around campus. On Sept. 24, a service project on campus worked to move the bark of the tree to gardens across campus – acting as mulch for soil and enriching plants. The project was led by Matzner and senior biology major and President of Augie Green, Rachel Johnson.

Johnson said that during her freshman year, she remembered seeing signs for the movie, “The Lorax,” around campus from students advocating for the tree. She hopes that upperclassmen continue to pass the history of the campus and Old Maple down to underclassmen.

“Faculty will remember, [but] newer students may not,” Johnson said.