Historic Magnolia Tree Gets Helping Hand
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Mayor Tommy Reynolds, Philip Simard, Katelynn Dillard and Jessie Gurner spread mulch Friday around one of the historic Magnolia trees in Railroad Park as part of an ongoing effort to help protect the tree following root damage during a recent construction project.
WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley Main Street Association is sponsoring an extended project along Main Street that includes a new ADA-compliant crosswalk at the corner of Panola Street and Main Street to improve access to Railroad Park, along with a new sidewalk in an area of the park where one had not previously existed. During excavation work for the project, roots of one of the park’s historic Magnolia trees were damaged.
This is not just any tree. This Magnolia was planted in the early 1900s by an arboriculturist with the Illinois Central Railroad, who came from Chicago to oversee the planting. For more than a century, it has been part of the beauty, history, and character of Railroad Park. Generations of families have passed beneath its branches, gathered in the shade to enjoy domino games, shopped nearby at the Farmers Market, and enjoyed the beauty it offers in the heart of town.
Before Matt Neilsen, an ISA Certified Arborist with Green Groves in Oxford, was available to visit the site, Yalobusha County Extension Agent Missy Burney came to Railroad Park to look at the tree and help determine the next steps. Burney consulted with experts at the Mississippi State University Extension Service about measures that could be immediately taken to protect the tree and support its recovery.
Neilsen later evaluated the tree and provided recommendations to help lessen the damage and give the tree the best chance to recover.
One important change suggested by Neilsen has already been made. The sidewalk material has been changed to permeable concrete, which will allow rainwater to pass through the surface and reach the roots below. That change should help reduce stress on the tree and give it better access to the moisture it needs.
Another recommendation was to spread a deep layer of mulch around the affected area. The mulch will help protect the roots, hold moisture in the soil, and reduce additional stress on the tree during the hot summer months.
On Friday, volunteers gathered in Railroad Park to begin that work. Between 50 and 60 cubic yards of mulch were spread around the tree. The mulch itself came with its own local connection. It was made from tree debris left behind in the county by the January ice storm and was personally delivered by Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors President Cayce Washington.
Volunteers helping with the project included Mayor Tommy Reynolds, Philip Simard, Katelynn Dillard, Jessie Gurner, and Daniel Defer. Defer’s participation may have been the most Water Valley part of the whole morning. He just happened to be walking by, saw the work taking place, and asked, “Do you need some help?” Then he joined in.
The work done Friday is an important first step, but the tree’s recovery will take time. People may notice sprinklers being used in Railroad Park this summer. Regular watering will be part of the effort to help the Magnolia recover from the root damage and remain healthy.
The hope is that with proper care, protection, and a little extra attention, this historic Magnolia will continue to stand in Railroad Park for many years to come. It has already weathered more than a century of Mississippi summers, storms, and change. Now, with help from those who care about the park and its history, it has a better chance to keep doing what it has always done, adding beauty, shade, and a quiet reminder of the people and stories that came before us.
