news Flash: Chester County Man Chooses a State Tree

By Michael Pillagalli

Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock, a resident of West Chester was known as the” Father of Pennsylvania Forestry” and suggested in 1896 that the Hemlock be designated as the state tree as it was one of the most characteristic of our state. And, at the General Assembly of 1931, Dr. Rothrock had his idea come true as the members gave their nod of approval to the Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) as the official state tree of Pennsylvania. If one took in the history, trade, and commerce of our state and paired it with the strength and ruggedness of the mighty Hemlock the voting members said it was a perfect match. 

Hemlock’s part in our state’s history as being a part of our forest’s makeup was important to the early settlers as the trees helped provide shelter, nuts, berries and seeds, fuel for the cold time fireplace and cooking, and forage for the farm animals.

Due to the abundance of Hemlock and Pine, Pennsylvania became known as the lumber state and led USA’s production of lumber from 1860 to 1870. 

One of the many trees which attained great age growing in the forests was the hemlock.  Dr. Rothrock was said to have counted the “growth rings” on a four foot ten inch thick trunk of a hemlock in the wild and established that it was in the vicinity of 542 years old.  That meant it could have been seen when Columbus first visited the New World or even stopped into Philadelphia.