Does Millcreek Have a Champion Tree? Let's Find Out!: The Last Word

It's an exciting day for me. Today is the day when it will be decided whether a champion will be crowned. No, I'm not talking about a sporting event. I'm talking about a giant tree.

The tree is located behind the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center on West 12th Street in Millcreek. It may seem like an ordinary tree. However, it may be a champion among its species. It may be the largest cucumber tree in Erie County. It may be the largest in the state. Ken Fromknecht, a local tree enthusiast, recently noticed the tree while he was inside the cancer center.

"I was looking out the window,” he explains. “I saw this tree and I said, ‘I got to go check that out."

Ken enlisted the help of City of Erie Arborist Sarah Peelman and Steve Laskowski, from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. I'm tagging along as the three of them officially measure the tree. I'm looking forward to seeing this.

"The three measurements we need are diameter, total height, and crown spread,” Steve says.

The diameter is measured first. Steve and Ken will wind a tape measure around the circumference of the tree. A big protrusion on the tree, called a burl, will not count.

“74-point-3 inches diameter,” shouts Steve.

The next measurement is height. I don't see a bucket truck or anything to help with that task. I'm told Steve will be using something called a clinometer. Excuse the pun, but determining the height of this tree is way over my head.

"So 59 plus 5 is 64. You times it by your baseline distance of 100 feet. It's a 64 foot tall tree,” reveals Steve.

It’s now time for the third measurement. The crown spread of the tree. The tape measure comes into play again. This will be a team effort to measure the crown from north to south then east to west.

It’s the moment of truth. Each of the measurements taken today are translated into points to determine if this is a champion tree. It's sort of like the Electoral College.  Aw. This particular tree is not a state champion. It is also not a county champion. Steve makes the announcement.

"For Erie County, the largest Magnolia acuminata on record, or cucumber tree, had 312 points. That's at Scott Park. This has 311.”

 The experts say if this tree was a little taller it would have been a state champ. Well, now we know.

The title for the largest cucumber tree in Pennsylvania is shared by two trees. One is in Chester County. The other is in Delaware County. Ken says the tree that he, Steve, and Sarah just measured is at least 250 years old.