The magnolia tree in front of McDade Estates along FM 2854 in Conroe is set to be recognized and dedicated as a historic tree by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition.
In a nutshell
Ron Saikowski, who serves on the Montgomery County Historical Commission, said MCHC Chair Larry Foerster inspired him to go after the designation for the magnolia tree.
“It’s of great historical value to our community,” Saikowski said. “It’ll be the first tree in Montgomery County to get a Texas state historic tree designation.”
Saikowski said he started working on the nomination application for this tree about a year ago and that the process included a site visit.
“It’s a recognition of our area’s desire to preserve the trees in our area,” Saikowski said.
Foerster said that before moving to a different subdivision, he lived in McDade Estates for 30 years and served on the neighborhood’s homeowners association.
“Throughout the 30 years we lived there, the McDade Estates tree became a very precious item for our subdivision,” Foerster. “And I daresay there probably would be people who would chain themselves to that tree if anybody tried to cut it down.”
Saikowski said the tree is likely over 150 years old.
Also of note
Saikowski said the magnolia tree is already protected under the city of Conroe’s tree ordinance.
“The designation as a state historic preservation tree means it’s going to be on the books as being a state historic tree ... and when [the Texas Department of Transportation] or other agencies look at providing improvements in the area, they will have to recognize the historical tree significance and plan their facilities around it to protect it,” Saikowski said.
Foerster also said this designation does protect the tree from a “practical point-of-view.”
“[The recognition] will make it very difficult, politically speaking and practically speaking, for the city of Conroe or the county or the state highway department to damage that tree when they get ready to widen [FM] 2854,” Foerster said.
The backstory
The original owner of the land the tree sits on was a man named James McDade, according to a historical record provided by Saikowski. McDade built his family home near the tree.
When McDade died in 1932, he left his land to his daughters, Lillie and Elisa Marie, according to the record. When FM 2854 was being surveyed, Lillie refused to give the right-of-way away unless the road was relocated further away from the tree.
According to the record, Lillie also worked with the developer of McDade Estates, Steve Kasmierksy Sr., and agreed to sell the land to him if she could live in a house next to Kasmiersky and his wife, Gerry. McDade Estates started in 1971 with two houses.
Steve Kasmiersky Jr., the son of the McDade Estates' developer, said it was the magnolia tree that caught his dad's eye.
"That gave him the idea that this would probably make a great entrance for a subdivision because of the very distinguishable [tree]," Kasmiersky Jr. said.
McDade Estates started in 1971 with two houses, according to the record.
Kasmiersky Jr. also said his father was very careful with the tree.
"He would occasionally call a tree expert out if it showed signs of weakness or anything like that," Kasmiersky Jr. said. "Whatever the tree expert said, he would have them do because he knew that that was the focal point of the subdivision."
What they’re saying
- “This tree is a valuable reminder of the history of [the] community surrounding the tree, McDade Estates,” Saikowski said. “The monument, the icon of McDade Estates is not any particular home in that subdivision. It’s the tree. It’s all about the McDade magnolia and the fight that Lillie McDade had to preserve that tree. And we continue to fight in her honor.”
- “Having this tree get some historical designation is very important to our community as we try to preserve one of the oldest magnolia trees in the state of Texas,” Foerster said.
The tree dedication and celebration event will take place Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Saikowski also said a historical plaque will be built by the McDade Estates Homeowners Association.
“It’s the history and the heritage of the people and the families that are associated with trees and buildings,” Foerster said. “So that tree represents certainly James McDade and his family going back 100-plus years ago, but it also represents the people that lived in [the] McDade subdivision who have cherished and protected that tree for probably ... roughly 50 years.”
