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Shoe tree stumbles upon Chagrin relocation
(by Barbara Christian - October 01, 2008)
Shoe tree stumbles upon Chagrin relocation
By BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Bainbridge Township's famed "shoe tree," which recently was taken down for the Savage Road reconstruction, has taken root in Chagrin Falls, if just temporarily.
Shoes began appearing on a large maple tree on East Washington Street about three weeks ago, according to resident Douglas King. He said his daughter Abbey pointed out the shoes which had been attached high on the trunk of the street-side tree in front of the family's home.
First came a pair of red tennis shoes, which were followed by a tiny pair of baby sandals and then one brown loafer and a pair of black pumps.
Mr. King said he had nothing to do with the advent of the shoe tree and has no idea who is responsible for transplanting the Bainbridge tradition to the village, but he doesn't mind having it within eye shot of his home.
But Benjamin King, who is no relation to Douglas King, said, "If we don't have rules about that, then we probably should." The Bainbridge resident, who serves as an expert adviser to the Chagrin Falls shade tree commission, said the commission "has never faced anything like this before, and it's a wonder we haven't." He noted that trees are a natural place for posting signs, for example, and there has been a proliferation of political signs in recent years.
After taking a look at the new shoe tree, Glenn Wyville, a member of the shade tree commission, agreed with Mr. King about having tree regulations. "It's an eyesore, and I wouldn't want it in front of my house," he said. "Besides, I would hate to see Chagrin Falls copy a Bainbridge tradition."
Douglas King said he has no objection to the tree being adorned in front of his home. "I actually think it's kind of cool and hope it catches on," he said.
But the shoes were scheduled for removal this week.
As it turns out, Mr. Wyville and Benjamin King need not worry about the lack of regulations regarding trees. That's because there are not one but two laws on the Chagrin Falls books that prohibit defacing or damaging trees in the public rights of way.
While the law is silent on sandals and loafers, pumps and tennis shoes are considered a damaging agent, according to village Administrator Benjamin Himes, who did not sidestep the issue. "Damaging or defacing tree-lawn trees is prohibited by law," he said. "The service department will remove the shoes."
Meanwhile in Bainbridge, township Trustee Linda White voiced amusement after learning of the new shoe tree in neighboring Chagrin Falls. She was undeterred from her own goal of replacing the Bainbridge shoe tree. She said she and a friend, Melody Tewksbury, are committed to continuing the tradition in Bainbridge and are on the trail of a new shoe tree.
Over the past 15 years, two shoe trees sprung up on the property of Savage Road resident George Quay.
The first was the victim of a storm, and the second, located nearby on his daughter's property, was taken down recently to make room for the Savage Road widening and improvements.
Ideally, the third edition shoe tree also would be located on Savage Road, Ms. White said. "That would be our first choice."
But she pointed out that deep ditches and guardrails planned for the road will make most of the roadside trees difficult to get to. "Kids should be able to get to the tree, wherever it is," she said.
Ms. White said she and Mrs. Tewksbury will wait for the work to be done there and then assess the situation. If there is not a perfect, accessible tree on Savage Road, they will turn their search elsewhere, she said, and they already have their eye on a replacement. "It's on the east side of Haskins," she hinted. "And it's very accessible."
Shoe trees are not unique to Bainbridge. Mr. Quay said they can be found in Quebec and around Canada, where pinning a shoe to a tree is supposed to bring good luck.
The Bainbridge tree gained some outside fame in recent years when it inspired the J. Patrick Lewis book, "The Shoe Tree of Chagrin."
Mr. Quay has expressed enjoyment for the run of shoe trees on his property and that of his daughter. Mostly, he enjoyed seeing people have fun with it, he has said.
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