The end of an elm

And just as ancient pets are euthanized by their caring owners, it was deemed by town council and the owners of nearby properties that the trees should be cut down rather than left to die.

The trees, however, may live on in another form. Town councilor Peter Turnbull is currently shopping around for a carver who can transform the elm trunks into art, to be displayed prominently in downtown Digby.

The idea isn’t brand new: as elm trees throughout Nova Scotia have succumbed to Dutch Elm disease, or in some cases old age, a number of communities have embraced the notion of transforming their trunks into art. The town of Truro is a shining example with over 30 elm sculptures on display.

Turnbull has talked to a half dozen carvers and at this point, there are two Nova Scotians who have expressed an interest in the potential commission.

The councilor hasn’t yet discussed the project with local artist, Peter Janson, because the town and Janson haven’t yet come to an agreement on exactly where the carving they commissioned from him three years ago will be placed.

That carving, from an elm tree that grew beside the three that came down last week, is of a giant scallop shell.

Janson (who also created the carvings at the centre of town) began the project in the summer of 2006 and finished at the end of the summer of 2007. He says he understood the scallop shell would be placed at the Water Street location where the tree grew, but upon its completion was informed by town council that it would be located in Fishermen’s Memorial Park. Janson was dissatisfied with that proposal, so the sculpture, unpaid for, has stood on his Montague Row property for the past two years.

Janson says he has had recent talks with members of the new town council, including the Mayor Ben Cleveland, and is hopeful the scallop shell will find a place in downtown Digby soon.

His wife, Pearl, is also hopeful. “It would be nice to have a place to park the car,” she says.

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