Atchison's Soul Tree removal begins, wood saved for community keepsakes

Crews began removing what remains of Atchison’s Soul Tree on Monday, July 6, after the longtime Siberian elm fell in the early morning hours of June 16 during extreme winds. Urban Lawncare started by limbing the tree and preparing it for milling, and smaller branches and tree cookies were left outside the work zone so residents could take home a piece of the landmark.

The larger logs are scheduled to be milled by monks from St. Benedict’s Abbey using a portable lumber mill, and the slabs are expected to dry for about two years before they are turned into furniture, artwork and other woodworking pieces.

The Atchison Art Association’s memorial design contest for a permanent Soul Tree memorial at LFM Park remains open through August 1. The winning artist will receive a $200 cash prize, and a jury made up of representatives from the Art Association, the City of Atchison and the Atchison Juneteenth Committee will review submissions for a sculptural work to commemorate the tree.

The loss prompted a public gathering on Friday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m. under the picnic pavilion on 7th Street, hosted by Kenny Smith and Lonnie Dudley with the Atchison Juneteenth Committee involved.

LFM Park was originally created by the Locomotive Finished Materials Company, now Bradken, for employee recreation before becoming a community space. Atchison was incorporated as a town on August 30, 1855, and as a city on February 12, 1858.