Black walnut wood is some of the most expensive on the market, which might explain why 10 trees planted more than 100 years ago by Barberton’s founder were chopped down in broad daylight last week, a lumber expert said.
Frank Luppino, a forester based in Medina, said it wouldn’t be the first time that thieves targeted walnut trees.
“In the ’60s and ’70s, people used to steal walnut trees. They were criminal loggers,” Luppino said. “That hasn’t happened in a long time. But still, to do it right in the city — that’s crazy.”
He said criminals targeted walnut trees because of the value and demand of the wood.
“People all over the world like to look at walnut,” he said. “It’s the most valuable tree by far. It’s more than twice as valuable as the next valuable species, which is white oak.”
Luppino said he couldn’t give an estimate of the value of the 10 trees — which were 30 inches wide and 50 feet tall — without examining them personally. He did say that walnut is usually worth $2 to $5 per “board foot,” which is a piece of lumber 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch.
Luppino guessed the vandals intended to return later to steal the lumber.
The walnut trees were discovered Tuesday, their trunks cut into sections and scattered near a historic wishing well in the backyard of O.C. Barber’s now-demolished mansion. The trees were planted there more than a century ago at Barber’s request.
Steve Kelleher, president of the Barberton Historical Society, said neighbors saw tree cutters on the Mansion Drive property Tuesday morning but assumed they had permission to work. They said the three men, one with a “scraggly beard,” drove a small SUV.
Police are investigating the incident.
In the meantime, Kelleher said the historical society is trying to decide what to do with the lumber.
“We don’t want it to go to waste,” he said. “We’ve been getting calls and emails and Facebook messages ever since with people suggesting ideas, but we’ve not decided what we’re doing with it yet.”
He invited anyone with ideas to call him at 330-830-1444. Police ask anyone with leads on the vandals to call 330-848-6703.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.