Western Springs To Remove Keebler Tree In Street Project

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — There's no door in the tree at Prospect Avenue and Reid Street in Western Springs. And no elf or cookie is in sight. But the landmark is often called the Keebler tree.

Within the next three weeks, the tree is slated to come down because of the reconstruction of Prospect Avenue. The village says it alerted residents in the spring about the plans for the project, including the tree's removal. But Cathy Blanford, who lives on the corner where the tree is, said she had no idea about the tree's removal until a neighbor told her about it Friday night.

"This is so sad. It's like a death in the family," said Blanford, who moved there more than three decades ago.

She said she was told years ago by a since-deceased neighbor that the catalpa tree was the last remaining one from an old orchard.

"The tree has always been gorgeous," Blanford said. "The trunk is hollow. It's all kind of gnarled. When you get under the tree, you see how thick the foliage is."

Normally catalpas are considerably taller, but this one is short, likely because ComEd crews had to prune it regularly because of the wires above, Blanford said.

"It feels like everyone in town knows about this tree. People take pictures of it," she said.

Because the tree is in the village's easement, Western Springs has the right to remove it.

When the village recently conducted an inventory of its trees, the Keebler tree was rated a 5 out of 6, with 6 being a dead tree, said Matt Supert, the village's director of municipal services.

"(M)uch of the sentiment regarding the tree is a result of its unique shape," Supert said in an email to Patch. "Unfortunately, the unique shape of the tree at this location is the result of the poor planting location and years of improper pruning, mostly by ComEd to ensure the tree didn’t impact overhead wires. The tree’s condition is stunted, with poor growth and shape."

He noted the tree is inches from the curb, which will be replaced as part of the project. The reconstruction, he said, requires adjustments of the street and curb. The process would be detrimental to any tree, even one in good condition that close to the curb, he said.

The village has talked to a number of residents about the tree, Supert said. It is considering planting a new tree in the easement if that is feasible, he said.

"The particular location in question is very tight due to multiple overhead utility wires," Supert said. "The existing tree is in too poor of condition to be transplanted."