Plan of Evanston
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VII
THE TREES OF EVANSTON by J. Seymour Currey
THE land now occupied by the city of Evanston was originally covered by a forest consisting mainly of oak trees, though there were certain tracts of low land lying between the ridges and sandy spaces where no trees grew. When Evanston passed from the condition of an open country district and was organized as a village in 1854, almost the first step taken in improvement was a provision for lines of shade trees along the streets that as yet existed only on paper .. It was well said by the superintendent of parks in Boston in a public address some years ago, that "the planting of street trees should be classed as one of the most important of civic duties," and he might have added "one of the first." In this respect the wisdom of our early citizens was well exemplified.
It was realized by the residents that the forest trees would gradually disappear to a large extent in the process of opening streets and clearing the ground for buildings, and that in any event the old trees were not desirable as shade trees and were not in positions to conform to the plans of regularity required. The Northwestern University had acquired a tract of 380 acres of land the previous year (1853), and had laid out the new village upon this tract on the plan with which we are all familiar. The predominant influence in public affairs at that time was centered in the board of trustees of the University, and the work of improvement was largely in their hands.
An extensive tract of woodland, consisting mostly of elms and maples, was situated about two miles west of the village, some vestiges of which still remain and are known by the old name of" The Big Woods." These "Big Woods" are now to be purchased by the Forest Preserve Commissioners
