Date: Fri 11-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Newtown-Forest-Assn-Schefkind

Full Text:

Newtown Forest Association Tree Contest Winner-- `The Colossus' Finally Gets

Some Recognition

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Large white pine trees completely surround the Schefkind home on South Main

Street. One of them, however, stands high above the rest.

It's the pride of Aaron and Christina Schefkind, who proudly refer to their

200-foot monster as, "The Colossus."

It was recently honored as Newtown's largest living white pine by the Newtown

Forest Association. A local nursery will now propagate the tree. The

association will then plant seedlings throughout its 1,000 acres of open space

here in town.

Newtown's largest living white pine, with its 156-inch circumference, is

believed to have been around long before the town of Newtown was even

established.

"I'm sure it was here before the Revolutionary War," Mrs Schefkind said.

It very well could have been. According Wes Gillingham of the forest

association, white pines were both plentiful and popular in this part of the

country for some 300 years, up until the early part of this century. It was

unrivaled as a timber producing tree. Its strength and light weight made it

valuable for ships' masts and railroad ties. When the original old growth

forests in the East were finally depleted, lumberjacks moved to the forests of

the Pacific Northwest.

Last week, the forest association presented the Schefkinds with a $500 check

for having one that managed to survive.

The Schefkinds gave the check to their granddaughter and her husband. The

Colossus might not have received the recognition it deserved had it not been

for Rachel and Gene Brochu, both Newtown High School graduates. Rachel, 26, is

the Schefkinds' granddaughter. She and her husband saw the contest advertised

in The Newtown Bee and decided to pull out the measuring tape. They filled out

the application form and sent it in. Board members Brian Hennessy and Dave

Thompson verified their measurements soon after. It was a biggie.

There is talk of the state's plan to widen Route 25 from Route 111 in Monroe

to the entrance to Fairfield Hills at Mile Hill Road. The Schefkinds believe

part of their front lawn will be lost to eminent domain. Fortunately, the

Colossus is far enough away from the road and would be spared. That's good

news to Mr Schefkind, who believes his beloved pine could not be felled by

even the worst of storms. Man would have been its only threat.

White pines are prevalent along Elm Drive, especially from the Birch Rise

Drive to Dickinson Park.

Last year's largest living tree contest produced two state records. Brian

Smith, age 9, of Grand Place, found the record Shag Bark hickory. In the

process of verifying the entries, a state record Oriental spruce was also

located in town.

The tree contest was created last year by association board member Allen

Flouten.