Letter to the Editor: Trees Cut Down on Cottage Row

Two days ago while visiting our summer place at the top of Gibraltar Road, south of Fish Creek, I had the opportunity of traveling down my very favorite short stretch of Door County roadway – Upper Cottage Row. I saw parked on the side of the road a cutting crew eyeing about six or seven huge old maple trees that were obviously marked to come down. It was clear that this had been scheduled to take place in the winter when the summer residents who love this canopied road were absent and unable to witness this butchery.

Why? Why were they taken down? These trees presented no danger to vehicles. There never has been an accident of note on this stretch of road. The trees were still stable. The question remains unanswered.

These trees were at least 100 years old and never to be seen again. This kind of shortsighted maintenance is not conducive to aesthetics or to further our beloved county’s beauty. In fact it promotes the very opposite of these values. It is a shame.

John Wilson

Baileys Harbor, Wis.