Trees, magnificent plants beyond human capacity to duplicate, suppliers of the very breath we require, a primary solution to our ever-deepening climate crisis, yet we destroy them as if there is no connection.
Mimosa Hall and Gardens survived the Civil War, but last week the city of Roswell decided history needed a parking lot. Their deadly aim destroyed the beauty, the natural habitat, and the native trees that distinguished our town from the surrounding sprawl. They clear-cut our finest urban forest — witness trees, trees on historic ground that knew our history and offered context to who we were.
A professional arborist clearly established that the ancient trees were of greater value than the historic homes. The land itself had withstood the test of time. Now, the Standing Ones are gone, and our land is altered forever. Our tax dollars fueled the effort; thus, by default, we are complicit.
“Growing up on a farm provided me with a deep sense of respect for our natural resources. I want to help Roswell protect its natural and cultural treasures so that we can grow as a destination point for American history and culture. Because my experience as an engineer and administrator involved planning communities, I believe we can limit the impact of automobiles by creating alternatives that will contribute to the health of the land and citizens.”
Before the landscape was altered, there was no better place to learn American history than Bulloch Avenue. It was here that the Trail of Tears began. Georgia seized the land from native peoples and distributed it to white men by lottery. It was then purchased by Roswell King, who, with friends and slaves, would build the town of Roswell.
Timber, cotton, and water to drive the textile mills financed the effort, and the town prospered. At least the six founding families did. They fed the secessionist movement and the resulting war with men and materials. The cost of their decision bled the nation and took the lives of three of their sons. The mill was burned, but the houses survived, and the story continued.
Teddy Roosevelt’s mother was a child of Captain Bulloch. She grew up at Bulloch Hall and was married there. When Teddy was president, he visited the home and would have seen the older trees now victims of the clear-cut.
Adjacent to Bulloch, directly across from Mimosa, is the home known as Roswell’s Little White House. Jimmy Carter visited his aunt there often during his run for the governorship. President Carter loved the out-of-doors. On those visits, for reflection and relaxation, he would have walked among the trees that we now see broken on the ground. The history we once could visualize by reading the landscape is now also broken. The context has been destroyed.
When I first saw Mimosa Hall and Gardens, she stood a stately beautiful mystery in the trees. Beyond the for sale sign, a deal was already on the table for 54 houses on the 11 pristine acres. I was part of a successful citizen’s effort to preserve the property for the public, and I served on the all-volunteer board for eight years. The board envisioned Mimosa as a meeting place for all of Roswell, a place where art and culture flourished, a living lab where sustainability and conservation were practiced, and a place where people had an opportunity to learn together and to work together.
One of the first decisions of the board was to work with nature, thus establishing a new direction. We financed, designed and upgraded the roof with solar. The board’s relationship with the city at that time was one of mutual respect and support.
But with the new mayor and council, things changed. We were valued for fundraising but denied serious input on site development. People who had worked tirelessly for years at Bulloch to restore and enhance the house and the land there were pushed out to give the new director a more controlling hand. As this became clear, another founder and I left the board.
The mayor had a plan to monetize the property by creating a wedding venue with roads, parking, sidewalks, signage, and lights at the expense of a pristine natural park within a stone’s throw of the very heart of Roswell.
The board’s vision, which grew from hours of work and discussion, was to create a gathering place in a natural world in the heart of the city where people could step away from an exhausting urban reality to unwind, relax, and find renewal and connection with others. Soon artists were working on the grounds. Concerts and lectures and socials were happening in the house. Experts and universities were participating. The opportunity was there for families to gather for coffee or picnics while their children played safely nearby in the woods.
We had space for more gardens and needed a small amphitheater to use as an outdoor classroom and a stage for entertainment. We drew plans for pedestrian trails featuring art and native plants connecting the historic district.
Mimosa had the potential to be a model where people could see sustainability in action, learn best gardening practices, the value of birds, pollinators and native plants, and see ways to create sanctuaries in their own yards and neighborhoods We proposed a more pedestrian-friendly historic district emphasizing multimodal transportation, using the three surrounding parking lots, and making Bulloch Avenue one-way with parking on a single side, freeing the street for people and celebration.
But this vision and this historic property with magnificent hardwoods fell victim to the chainsaw in preparation for easy accommodations for the automobile, high heels, and the opportunity to look just like developments everywhere. What once was a unique natural and cultural heritage site has now been reduced to concrete and sawdust and a place for the rich to marry.
The Roswell mayor and a majority of the council approved the clear-cutting of the historic woods between Bulloch Hall and Mimosa House and Gardens to build a parking lot, creating “A plague o’ both your houses” to ensure that a few wedding guests would never have to walk far. In doing so, they have obscured the past and destroyed opportunity, beauty, and wonder for the many to sustain a life of ease for a few. The trees are gone. To quote The Band: “They should never have taken the very best.”
The past leaves us footprints to read, but it does not have to be our guiding star. We must not become spectators of our own destruction. Many in power are clever, but what the world needs now is wisdom, which is often found in the people. The truth is available.
The only way to apologize to our children is to put a hard stop on the parking, and plant trees.
This is a tragedy that could have been avoided. Bulloch Avenue could have easily been parallel parked and made one way, or a queueing street.
Work should halt. Trees should be restored.
Barringron was paved over in much the same way by non-visionaries. Mimosa should not suffer the same fate.
Politicians are not planners. Let the people with common sense prevail.
Lew.Oliver, former resident, former HCP member.
What a tragedy! What are the next steps in trying to reverse course on this?
I am saddened beyond measure. We condemn third world countries for destroying their forests and yet nothing is said or condemned when it is our own. Shame on Roswell.
The facts show that the City of Roswell Mayor and Council did not provide complete disclosure before allowing clear cutting. They failed to consider the wisdom available to them from their own arborist, volunteers and board members of Mimosa, Bulloch Hall and the historical society. They can no longer be trusted. They want to be in direct competition with other local venues for rentals for weddings and private parties. Government does not need to compete with the private sector. They need to govern and be fiscally accountable. There are numerous issues to unpack here. They have forgotten their role and mission. How can we expect developers to respect the tree ordinance when our own government doesn’t!
A beautiful historic natural landscape falls victim to ignorance and greed. And it will take a hundred years to correct the mistake.
A terrible deed has been done. We need to examine the process to identify the errors and ensure this does not happen again in our historic district. Just because it has been clear cut does not mean the rest of the ill conceived plan must move forward. We must slow down and examine the best use for this damaged property. Let’s get some wiser people involved to repair as best we can.
There is an amazing event location… right across the square, at the Mill. And even Bulloch Hall has space for appropriate events. Who are all these people who need to have events right there? I am skeptical there is even a market for these events, and certainly not at a deforested hall in the hot georgia sun. Who is profiting here and I will pray they fail. In the meantime, plant real trees, native species.
What a sad state of affairs for the city of Roswell to witness in the clear cutting of timber in the historic downtown area. How do the mayor and council plan to replace over 30 acres of old growth timber?
In 100 years the 12 new native trees they plan to have installed will be grown. That’s a long time for current voters/residents to wait. None of us can live long enough to see this plan implemented.
This clear cutting of 30+ acres of old growth timber is the result of an outrageous decision made by mayor and city council. What happened to their promise of transparency? Obviously forgotten in the excitement of the moment’s decision to clear cut a large swath of land in the heart of Roswell, ignoring advice from professional arborists, Historical Committees and input from residents.