Picture of the day - July 11, 2005

An Old Chestnut Split-Rail Fence

Back when America was young and expanding westward, timber was plentiful. And one of the most plentiful trees of all along the Appalachian Mountain Range was the American Chestnut. Lumber cut from American Chestnut trees was called "wormy chestnut" because of all the distinctive worm holes in the planks. Wormy Chestnut lumber was a primary building material back then for several reasons. It was very resistive to decay, light-weight, and easy to work with. Also, the vast number of virgin American Chestnut trees that populated the Appalachian forests provided cheap lumber that was readily available in amazing widths. In fact, it's relatively easy to find wormy chestnut boards that can be measured in feet, not just inches! As a result, countless homes and barns were built out of wormy chestnut lumber. There were also many thousands of miles of split-rail fences built out of wormy chestnut logs. But the first decade of the 20th century started a downward spiral that would eventually bring an end to the availability of new wormy chestnut lumber - in fact the very existence of living American Chestnut trees would soon be no more... In 1904, the American Chestnut trees started being attacked by chestnut blight. The blight spread at an unstoppable rate, and within 50 years virtually all of the American Chestnuts had succumbed to it. The demise of this wonderful tree had devastating effects on the residents of the Appalachian Mountain region. After the remaining Chestnut trees had been harvested, there was no more new wormy chestnut lumber to be found. Even worse, there would be no more of the tasty chestnuts that had been a dietary staple of the Appalachian people. The chestnuts had always been harvested and stored for consumption during the winter months, and they were even bartered and used as a form of "money" in the poorest regions. The loss of the American Chestnut trees also dealt a heavy blow to the wildlife living along the Appalachian range. Squirrels, bear, deer and many other animals had depended on the plentiful chestnuts for food, but that bounty came to an end when the Chestnut trees were no longer producing the nuts. The animals had to adapt, and adapt quickly. Many of them didn't make it, and the ones that did had to learn to enjoy a new diet. Wormy chestnut lumber can still be found today in the form of used and recycled wood products. The lumber from those stately old trees is remarkably durable, and many old barns are still covered with wormy chestnut planking. There is an active market in which the barns are sold off, torn down, and the precious lumber sold at a premium price - just another sad chapter in a long, sad story. And although rare in today's America, there are still some old chestnut split-rail fences to be found, especially at historic venues along the Appalachian range and the Blue Ridge Parkway. One such fence is the focus of today's picture. You'll find it located on the grounds of southwestern Virginia's Grayson Highlands State Park.   Picture Of The Day Homepage | Submit a photo Interesting Articles