High Street Trees, 1888 and Now

High Street in the late 1800's with Newburyport Superior Court House on the left

    In 1902, Miss Harriet Colman produced a document, The Trees of Newburyport per request of the City Improvement Society's executive board. It provides a detailed and informative account of the most common tree species throughout the city dating from 1853. She lamented that in 1902 the tree count on High Street alone was down fifty percent from its 1853 count of 1147 street trees. Sadly, as of July 2017, the High Street inventory is even lower. There are only 211 trees between Atkinson Common and Marlboro Street, including the forty that were planted by the Tree Commission only during the last couple of years.
     Below are a few pictures of this year's High Street plantings and some photos of our High Street canopy in the late 1800's, courtesy of the Newburyport Public Library archives.  With an increase in municipal funding, the Community Preservation Act, other grants, donations from city groups and individuals, the Tree Commission hopes to restore High Street to its original magnificence while reforesting the rest of the city slowly but surely.

New Okame Flowering Cherry Tree in front of 25 High Street

A Sergeant Cherry Tree at 270 High Street

Ultimately, sidewalk repairs will be done around this new Hornbeam sapling at 253 High Street

Two Sergeant Cherry trees added in front of 287 1/12 High Street. Each new tree will have a gator bag for two years to ensure its survival.

308 High Street will have a little more shade in a couple of decades from this Ivory Silk Lilac Tree! In the meantime, the spring blossoms will delight. If you have a tree with a gator bag in front of your home, please fill at least once a week. 

One of twenty trees planted on High Street in 2017, a Gingko near apartments at #351.

2017 Hornbeam Tree planted at 323 High Street and corner of Twomey Drive. 

Hedge Maple at 351 High Street

Although these two Trident Maples were planted last year at 346 High Street, weekly watering is provided throughout the 2017 growing season. 

Princeton Elm in front of the Home for Aged Men at 361 High Street

Ice storms took their toll on trees in the 1800's adding to other natural causes. By 1902, there were only 580 trees remaining on High Street between Three Roads and Marlboro Street, down from 1147 fifty years earlier. 

Corner of High and Bromfield, 1880's

High Street just below Fruit Street

A man standing below High Street canopy with his rifle and hound. Maybe waiting for a street car to take him  turkey hunting in the west end? 

Some notable Willow trees once  thrived on High Street just west of Toppans Lane.

In the days of pre-growth of tree roots through city sidewalks?

Oak trees were plentiful yet slowly dying off. The most noteworthy Oak Tree was the Old Beacon Oak that sported a vessel atop a pole which guided mariners to port. It was located between Market Street and the Dexter House. 

Horse-Chestnuts and Maples were favorite staples for shade trees.

High Street boasted many Linden trees. One near Carter Street had a unique growth with nine trunks growing from the same root, forming a cone. Mulberry and Silver-leaved Poplar trees were also plentiful but were already in decline by 1902.

A row of Elms at Mt. Rural, current site of Newburyport High School. Elms were among the most notable trees on High Street.  

Ample shade from street trees provided adequate air conditioning for homes on hot summer days.

For more information about purchasing a tree in memory or honor of an individual, visit www.fontrees.org or message us on our Friends of Newburyport Trees Facebook page. All donations to FONT are fully tax-deductible. Also, be sure to contact Wayne Amaral, Tree Warden at the DPS to report a damaged or diseased tree. The Tree Commission is doing its best to replace any hazardous trees that must be removed as soon as possible.