This Day in History: 1934-08-06
State authorities confirmed that the Dutch Elm disease had hit Ridgewood. Nine trees were determined to be diseased in the village. The Village Shade Tree Department stated that there were 550 Elms on the streets owned by the village, many of them 18-30′ in diameter, and probably between 1,000 and 1,500 on private property plus 300 at the Municipal Nursery on East Glen Ave. Federal experts said that all of these were doomed unless the disease could be quickly eradicated. The State Tree Department employees were destroying the affected trees as soon as possible. They were being cut down, taken to the nursery site, soaked with oil, and burned completely. After each day’s work even the tools were being sterilized. The State appropriation of $30,000 for the year had already been used up so Ridgewood could expect no financial aid, but Superintendent Henry Leuning was determined to get every diseased tree down as quickly as possible. He foresaw some problems with those on private property though. (Bristow)