The Story Behind Those Red Cedars At St. Paul's Civil War Monument
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- The six Red Cedar trees surrounding the Civil War Monument in St. Paul are a secret 10 years in the making.
Their story is now being told -- fittingly -- on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Susie Jones Reports
The Story Behind Those Red Cedars At St. Paul's Civil War Monument
"I'm glad they survived," historian Patrick Hill said. "It's been a long struggle. We've kept it a secret for 10 years because we didn't want people to come up and tear off leaves and stuff."
Hill visited Gettysburg 10 years ago and noticed some seedlings growing in the field.
He asked the grounds keeper what they did with them, and was told they get mowed down to preserve the field.
Thus because his long process of requesting the seedlings, which were then grown at the Como Conservatory. The saplings were re-planted around the monument, where they now stand 6-feet tall today.
"I think the care they were given at the Como Park Conservatory was critical," Hill said.
For Hill, they are a reminder of the bloody battle where tens of thousands of men died.
