Collinsville in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Magnolia Tree
Photographed By Jason Voigt, April 19, 2020
1. The Magnolia Tree Marker
In March 1966 the 76 year old Magnolia Tree planted by the late Theodore Ambrosius was moved from its original site on Clay Street to the front lawn of the Collinsville Memorial Library.
The tree was scheduled to be taken down from the property owned by the Illinois Bell Telephone Company to make way for expansion of the company building. The Library Board decided to save the tree and have it moved the two blocks to the library property.
The A-C Construction Company was to move the tree which was 20 feet high and 35 feet across. It took 2 days for John Luja Nursery in French Village to prepare the tree for transplanting. At the time the tree was estimated to have 50,000 magnolia buds on it.
The landscaping crew dug up the tree and put burlap around its roots forming an 11 foot wide ball. The tree was then hoisted into a high lift with the tree counterbalanced by about a ton of bagged rock salt on the outriggers. It was moved through the alleys of Guernsey and Main Streets to the library lawn.
Sadly within the year the Magnolia Tree died but from its roots grew the existing tree.
Erected 2015 by Collinsville Memorial Library.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The 1937 Main Building (a few steps from this marker); The Dorris Fountain (a few steps from this marker); In Memoriam (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named In Memoriam (a few steps from this marker); Pan (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named In Memoriam (a few steps from this marker); The Collinsville Historical Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1986 Additions to the Library Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Collinsville.
Photographed By Jason Voigt, April 19, 2020
2. The Magnolia Tree Marker
Marker and tree are in front of Collinsville Memorial Public Library.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
