The Historic Trees of Union College

Introduction:

Since the founding of Union College in 1795, the campus' architecture has played an important role in its identity. Built from the plans of Joseph-Jacques Ramée in the early 1800s, the college has kept its unique aspects and design throughout the ages. The prized piece of this design is the Nott Memorial at the center of campus. However, due to its extravagant appearance, many other aspects of the design are often overlooked. One of these overlooked aspects is the campus' landscaping, specifically the trees that occupy the spaces we walk past every day.

In the college's initial design, trees were not included as a major design element. Ironically, this has become the contrary for the modern-day campus; the grounds are now covered in trees with dedicated spaces such as Jackson's Gardens. While the modern-day campus has a set design, this was not always the case. Before the college was founded, the trees in the region were very different. Records suggest that forests in New York were dominated by a variety of different trees including: Red Spruce, Balsam Fir, Sugar Maple, American Beech, Yellow Birch, Oaks, Hickory, and American Chestnut. Today there are hundreds of different species of plants and trees throughout the gardens and the rest of campus. These numerous varieties of trees not only contribute to the landscape of the campus but also serve a purpose by maintaining the overall college environment. Additionally, Union College won an award for its landscaping in 1999. Cementing its reputation as being one of the most beautiful colleges in the country.

While many trees on campus were initially planted because of their physical appearance, these trees have come to represent different purposes beyond just looking pretty. Whether its purpose is blocking the sun, creating fresh air, or being used by students for hammocks, each tree has its importance. Despite this, few people know the history of some of these trees on campus. Many of these trees have stories to tell and examining those stories is beneficial to learning more about some of Union College’s lost history. Below I've highlighted some of the more signifigent stories about trees on campus. To learn more about each one simply click on its name to be brought to its page.