The Nott Elm
Throughout time, trees have always been seen as symbols of fertility, nourishment, union and transformation. Trees have always served a purpose which can be appreciated regardless of whether or not they reside as centerpieces or lay out the boundaries. While in daily life most trees do little more than setting the scene, this has not always been the case. Due to their age, size, aesthetic, botanical, ecological, and historical value, certain trees surpass their peers and can be classified as heritage trees. These heritage trees are important to their communities and have far more than just historical value. Of all the trees that have lived on the Union College campus, no other tree has fit this esteemed role more than the Nott Elm.
For past Union students, the Nott Elm located in Jackson’s Gardens, was representative of Union’s heritage. With the tree estimated at over 400 to possibly 500 years old, it was around way before the school was even founded. While this tree may not seem interesting to outsiders, it holds an important place in the college’s history because it was the former location of graduate events. Early images depicted students sitting under the tree surrounded by their friends and family moments before they graduated. This tradition was so important in the school's history that there was even a song written about it titled, “The Nott Elm Tree.” This song starts by highlighting the importance of Harvard Square to Harvard and the Old Fence to Yale - both of which are structures or spaces holding historical and traditional value to their respective colleges. The song then concludes with the line, “And show me the true heart-ed son of old Union, Who doesn’t love ‘The Garden,’ One, Two, Three and the ‘Nott Elm’ there.” This line is important to note because it compares the spectacles of these prestigious schools to the Nott Elm, emphasizing its prominent role in the hearts of Union students.
However, the story of the Nott Elm tree does not have a happy ending. In the early 1930s, the Dutch Elm Disease snuck into the United States through a shipment of imported furniture. The Dutch Elm Disease is a fungal infection that is deadly to all species of elm tree. By 1937, it didn’t take long for this disease to spread to the Nott Elm and begin to kill the historic tree. The college had a Zoologist diagnose the tree and he determined that is did not have much time left. Soon after hearing that the tree was dying, the college jumped into action and started looking for its descendants' saplings around the area to replace it. A few newspaper clippings in the file discuss the new tree which would continue the legacy of its predecessor. Unfortunately, the Nott elm didn’t last long after its diagnosis. In 1952, there were hundreds of American Elm trees on the Union College campus. Sadly by 1974, hundreds had fallen sick and by 1987 even more had died. Almost all of the elm trees had died permanently, altering the landscape of the campus.
While there is no official documentation, it is reasonable to assume that the descendants of the Nott Elm met the same fate as their ancestor. This, in turn, ended the tradition of celebrating graduation under the elm tree in the gardens. Fortunately, this is not the end of story for elm trees on campus. Recently, the college has started planting more American Elm trees. Located across campus with a grouping near the Reamer Loop, these trees are starting to make a triumphant recovery on campus. As time passes, students will be able to watch these important historical trees grow and thrive far into the future.
Bibliography:
Bartels, M. (2022, April 13). New York City battles on against Dutch Elm Disease. Nautilus | Science Connected. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://nautil.us/new-york-city-battles-on-against-dutch-elm-disease-4969/
Coates, P. (2007). American perceptions of immigrant and invasive species. In American Perceptions of Immigrant and Invasive Species. University of California
Conti, J. (n.d.). Union College - Tree Points Layout. Tree Points Layout. Unpublished.
Grabowski, M. (2019). Dutch elm disease. UMN Extension. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/dutch-elm-disease#:~:text=Dutch%20elm%20disease%20(DED)%20causes,to%20tree%20through%20root%20grafts.
Union College Schafer Library Special Collections. The Nott Elm. Schenectady: Union College. March 14, 2022.
Walas, M. (2017, October 8). The universal symbolism and importance of trees throughout history. The Living Urn. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://www.thelivingurn.com/blogs/news/the-universal-symbolism-and-importance-of-trees#:~:text=The%20ancient%20symbol%20of%20the,trunk%20is%20seen%20as%20masculine.