WEST VINCENT >> Chester Springs resident Jim Helm has spent the last several weeks trying to save a historical estimated 270-year-old oak tree on his property from being destroyed by utility companies.
The tree, which stands on the border of his property, extends into power lines which run along the road, making it vulnerable for unwarranted trimming and cutting by Verizon and PECO.
Helm, along with his wife Jane, live on a historic property in West Vincent, where their centuries-old barn from 1819 is protected by a historical commission. Efforts to protect their rare tree, one of few left in Chester County of that size and age, have proved more difficult. The tree is a white oak that measures 14 feet in circumference and is 100 feet tall, with a canopy that’s 100-feet wide.
Recently the Helms discovered Verizon crews cutting off branches of the oak tree and halted engineers as best they could, as the police were called in to regulate the situation and ordered the Helms back to their house. West Vincent Township officials have told the Helms they want to help save the tree but progress has been slow.
Helm noted that between the trimming conducted by Verizon and West Vincent Township, 25 percent of the tree’s canopy is now gone.
“Jane and I were defiant and resolute, so much we were willing to be arrested for protesting. The police conduct was embarrassing and the township is investigating,” Helm remarked. “Township administration unfortunately moved too slow and did not seem much of a factor. They supported our interests but did little proactively. This township does not have a Shade Tree commission like West Chester,” he said.
The Helms have been fighting to protect the tree as best they can, and are in the processing of registering the tree. Helm noted that of the historically registered trees in the area, theirs in the top five in the county. Additionally, they have contacted numerous arborist agencies, township officials as well as PECO and Verizon. After weeks of being at standstill, all parties involved have expressed interest in saving the tree.
“The tree is ours but sits in the township easement, which gives the township, really, the ultimate say in what happens in the easement,” said Helm. “Representatives from PECO, Verizon and Toll Brothers visited the site last week. They jointly determined the tree will not be further disturbed. The PECO engineer continues to say he never wanted the tree touched in the first place, but they witnessed for themselves how about 25 percent of the tree canopy is now missing. The limbs cannot be saved at this point,” he said.
PECO spokesperson Liz Williamson said they never intended to fully cut down the Helm’s tree and aim to maintain trees in the area from becoming hazardous.
“We never planned on cutting the tree down, we only were going to perform some trimming of the tree in order to accommodate the work that had to be done on the overhead lines in the area. We did meet with Mr. Helm personally and explained that. Whenever we do any trimming of trees we always take the health of the tree and the species of the tree into consideration. We trim trees according to national standards so that we are able to maintain the health of the tree once the trimming is completed,” Williamson commented.
Perhaps a larger question continues to loom; as modern development continues to grow at a rapid rate in Chester County, who will advocate on behalf of the few, rare old trees left and save them from being cut down? If no viable plan of protection is in place, residents may be forced to take matters into their own hands.
“The question for Chester County and our township is whether we have the right to protect these historical trees,” Helm said. “Right now, protection is very individualized, by people like ourselves. Seldom do state, county or local laws protect these items. Everyone believes we need to keep these types of trees, but the trees can easily get lost in the rush to get the job done for the sake of development.”
