Thieves fell historic US walnut trees

– Ten hundred-yearold black walnut trees at a historical site in Barberton, Ohio, were cut down this week by would-be thieves apparently hoping to cash in on high prices for the precious lumber.

The 15m-high trees graced the former estate of city founder, Ohio Columbus Barber, who made his fortune in matches and was known as America’s “Match King”.

Barberton Historical Society President Steve Kelleher said the illegal loggers, led by a man with a long white beard, cut down the trees in broad daylight on Monday.

The crew left the logs and Kelleher believes they were aiming to come back for them, but a neighbour alerted the society.

Barber’s mansion, about 60km south of Cleveland, was torn down in 1965 but a stone wishing well and the land with the surrounding walnut trees were purchased five years ago by the historical society for $60 000 (almost R1 million).

Kelleher said the thieves cut all 10 of the property’s black walnut trees into 20 separate logs weighing about two tons each.

He said the lumber was worth about $12 000 and that the historical society would sell it, albeit reluctantly.

Barberton police were canvassing the area and the historical society was doing its own investigating.

“We are pretty mad about this,” Kelleher said. –

The illegal loggers, led by a man with a long white beard, cut down the trees in broad daylight on Monday