Return of the Native

Broomall Rotary Club Plants American Chestnut Trees in Marple

Our Community Written by Holly Stupak

Photos courtesy of Paul Quintavalla

The Broomall Rotary Club (BRC) has founded many programs that bring pride to the Marple community and reflect the overall spirit and mission of the club. From humanitarian programs overseas to local programs like Student of the Month, vocational awards and scholarship funds, their projects reflect their motto: service above self. Their latest project was inspired by Rotary International's newest area of focus, supporting the environment. Working with the Marple Tree Commission (MTC), BRC members recently began planting hybrid American Chestnut trees on private and public land, helping to restore the natural balance of trees here in Marple township.

Once known as the perfect tree for its high-quality lumber and nutritious food, the American Chestnut tree was virtually wiped out in the early 1900s. Before the 20th century, this tree accounted for 20% of the forest. Chestnuts were an especially valuable food for indigenous people and early settlers.

The trees also supported many other species, ranging from 56 moth species whose caterpillars ate Chestnut leaves, to countless species of birds that relished their nuts, to large mammals such as black bears that relied upon the nuts as a main source of nourishment before hibernation. Sadly, a blight from Japan in 1904 left the trees virtually extinct by the 1950s. Currently there are only a handful of American Chestnuts of size in Pennsylvania. The dead trees re-sprout from the roots, get the disease and eventually die several decades later and re-grow again.

(L-R): Paul Quintavalla, Lou Pace, Chris Sim and Rick Ray

By raising funds and collaborating with the tree commission, the Rotary Club was able to purchase 12 disease-resistant hybrid American Chestnut trees from a mail order nursery and they’ve already begun planting them. Spearheading the project is former Rotary Club President Lou Pace, and longtime Rotarian and Broomall resident Paul Quintavalla. Paul explained that the best time to plant the trees is in early spring or late fall, when trees are dormant. Rick Ray, a retired assistant professor of landscape horticulture, assisted Paul with purchasing the trees last summer and stored them at the MTC nursery until they were planted in March.

They’ve been guiding us every step of the way,” Paul said. “We are confident in success.

The MTC was founded 16 years ago and is all volunteers. Rick coordinates the planting and care of all trees newly planted by the MTC and is a frequent guest lecturer at the BRC meetings.

Anytime I have the opportunity to twist people’s arms about planting trees," said Rick. "I’ll do it! said Rick.

So far, six hybrid American Chestnut trees have been planted on the grounds of Delaware County Community College (DCCC). Chris Sim, the grounds supervisor at DCCC, selected and prepared a site along Media Line Rd where the trees were planted. Three trees were planted on private property within a block of each other and the other trees are going to continue to grow for two years in the MTC nursery until they can be planted with a good root system and minimum deer protection. “It promises to be a very welcome return to our forest,” said Paul.

Lou Pace and Paul Quintavalla

Projects like these that support the environment are just one of the many ways the BRC brings positive changes in the world and right here in our community. “Scientists have given us a chance to make things right with nature and we’re making the most of it,” said Lou. For more information about the BRC visit www.BroomallRotary.com, and to learn more about the MTC, visit www.MarpleTreeCommission.com.