If a legendary tree is cut down, and turns out to not be that legendary, does it make a sound?
When the towering cottonwood tree in Vanover Park was cut down in 2006, the event had the feeling of historic importance. Crowds gathered, and a special ceremony was conducted to commemorate the felling of the 8-foot-diameter tree, which was believed to be 200 years or older. Plans were made to redesign the park, creating a historic display around a preserved cross-section of the tree trunk.
Six years later, after a study of the tree indicated it was closer to only 100 years old, modest plans to redesign the park are moving forward, aimed more at adding playground equipment than in highlighting the cottonwood.
“We’ve moved forward and worked on a plan that takes the eastern portion of the park and creates some play features,” said Golden Parks and Recreation Director Rod Tarullo. “The stump stays there, and the slab is used as a table area in the design.”
The park and tree derive their names from the unfortunate tale of Edgar Vanover. In 1859, the boisterous barkeep became quite drunk, made a few threats and shot up the town. Historical accounts say a mob captured Vanover and unanimously voted to preemptively hang him, to stop him from harming anyone. He was brought down to the creek, near the corner of Ford Street and Water Street and hung, either in the large tree, or within sight of it.
After it was cut down in 2006, the Golden Landmark Association hired an endocrinologist to study the tree, and prepare a cross section for diplay, but there were problems.
“After the tree expert did his work, it turned the tree wasn’t as old as people had thought,” Tarullo said. He added that the trunk itself showed extensive rot, and would not have worked well as a historical display. Worse yet, Tarullo said, the tree was too young to have witnessed the hanging of Edgar Vanover.
Even with the tree’s significance “diminished,” Tarullo said, the plan to update Vanover Park continued. He called the park plan a small change, costing only about $80,000.
A public hearing on the new park plan drew only two community comments last week, one who expressed support for the plan and one who did not want changes. The community will have a second chance to comment on the plan, when it goes to the City Council, later this summer. If approved, the work could be complete this fall.