Carroll asked to remove tree from courthouse lawn – The Carroll News

Allen Worrell/The Carroll News

The Carroll County Historical Society has requested the Carroll County Board of Supervisors remove the evergreen tree on the historic courthouse lawn and add two interpretive signs, including one for the Confederate solider monument.

The Carroll County Historical Society has requested the Carroll County Board of Supervisors remove the evergreen tree on the historic courthouse lawn in Hillsville and add two interpretive signs, including one for the Confederate solider monument that stands guard over the courthouse.

In a letter written to Carroll County Interim Administrator Cellell Dalton dated September 30, the Carroll County Historical Society requests removal of the tree in addition to permission to place a pair of interpretive signs on the lawn of the Historic Carroll County Courthouse Lawn. The evergreen has served as the centerpiece for the Tree Lighting Ceremony each December for the annual Christmas Parade in Hillsville.

The letter is written and signed by Carroll County Historical Society President Shelby Inscore-Puckett.

The Carroll County Historical Society has two requests concerning the historic Courthouse in Hillsville. First, we would like to see the evergreen tree removed from the front lawn; and second, we would like to have two interpretative signs located on the lawn, Inscore-Puckett wrote in the letter to Carroll supervisors. The evergreen tree has outgrown its space and now blocks the view of the historic courthouse, which is architecturally unique in the state of Virginia. The combination features of columns and arches, portico and porch are not found in any other courthouse in the state. The experiences of viewers and visitors would be enhanced by the removal of the tree and the placement of an interpretative sign about this historic building.

Inscore-Puckett continued by saying trees on the courthouse lawn have been an issue for a long time. To demonstrate her point, the historical society president included two articles one from September of 1953 and a second undated article, noting no source was available for either article. The article from 1953 states:

The county has never been content with the trees on the courthouse lawn. In 1872, there were locusts planted, but they were cut in the early 30s, the 1953 article said. Then these fruit trees were planted and after these, a huge pine or cedar was put there along with a Paw Paw tree. They too, all bit the dust. Now, Ive heard that the current foliage is about to be removed. Talk about waffling!

The second article, which is undated, begins with the headline, Trees On Court House Lawn Felled. The article reads as follows:

The orchard was chopped down in the Court House lawn Wednesday morning leaving a barren appearance on each side of the steps leading from the vent. A peach and an apple tree plus a lot of nice shade from the summer sun was sacrificed to a cutting tool. The shrubbery that will take their place should add to the elegance of the already stately Court House and premises, however. For some time, various individuals and organizations have endeavored to have some action taken on removing the trees, which practically hid the front of the courthouse. So, acting under orders, Dan Combs, Sanitation and Street Cleaning Commission of the Town, grabbed his trusty axe and at (time unreadable) on Wednesday he laid the orchard low.

According to Inscore-Puckett, the most recent Paw Paw tree that had been on the courthouse lawn broke in 2010 before being removed entirely later that year. She said the second requested interpretative sign would be for the statue of the Confederate solider in the courthouse lawn.

Since closing the museum we have noticed a good number of people who come to visit the statue (and they usually take pictures). Without the availability of museum staff or volunteers to answer questions or offer background information about the statue, there is a lack of information the Historical Society believes important to provide through an interpretative sign, Inscore-Puckett said.

She concluded the letter by saying the historical society is researching signage specifications and costs, which they will provide to the board as soon as they are available. Some sample signs can be found online at the website of Imperial-Images in Mount Airy, N.C., she said.

We hope the Board of Supervisors will agree that these two actions would be an enhancement for visitors to the courthouse and that they will approve and support the Historical Society in moving forward with these projects, lnscore-Puckett said.

UPDATE

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors took up the historicals society request during its Oct. 13 meeting. After hearing the presentation, Supervisor Rex Hill said he didnt have a problem with the interpretive signs, but wanted to wait before making a decision on the tree.

Ive got a little bit of concern about the removal of the tree until at least we check with Hillsville. They use that for the Christmas Tree lighting every year, Hill said. Whether or not we get to put another tree up or plant another tree is something we should consider.

Chairman Dr. Tom Littrell said the county could break the requests up and didnt have to do them both at the same time.

I make a motion we approve the intrepretive signs and then have a discussion with the Town of HIllsville on the tree, Hill said.

Supervisor Tracy Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on Twitter@AWorrellTCN

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Carroll asked to remove tree from courthouse lawn - The Carroll News