We can look at a portrait, we can recognize a name, and we can search online for biographical notes about a celebrated historical figure. However, how can we distill the pure essence of personality when so much time has passed? Fortunately, sometimes a person holds on to special letters or personal papers, and they surface when a biography detective goes to work. Join me in examining a few revealing items Edmund Secrest left for us to enjoy.
In a September 21, 1921, handwritten letter thanking “Grandpa” for a birthday gift of money and cigars, Secrest describes his recent activities, “Have been hustling a little more
than usual this summer. We have an organization of about 100 forest fire wardens in south Ohio and may need about 25 more. These men enforce the fire laws and take charge of fighting fires. . . This work has given me more to do than usual, aside from some other running around that I had to do. We have 20,000 acres of state forest and hope to increase the amount next year.”
In addition to his forestry work, Secrest advocated for the development of municipal parks first doing so with Mt. Airy Forest in Cincinnati. In his letter to his grandfather, he mentions a lawsuit by Cleveland landowners protesting the development of the Cleveland Metropolitan Park System—“I was in Cleveland for almost 4 days as a witness in a suit to test the constitutionality of the Metropolitan Park Law, which I helped to write. Cleveland is taking up large areas of the rough creek and river lands [lands with steep banks and ravines considered unproductive and unsuited for development—the date indicates the Rocky River area] near the city for health and recreation areas for the poorer people who cannot get to the north woods. . . Was in the stand all of Monday p.m. and had to spend the remainder of the time in going over the areas. I thought I might have a hard time of it, but before I got through had quite a little fun with the plaintiff attorney, who wasn’t very keen and who was trying to play the other fellow’s game.”
On a more serious note, Secrest wrote a September 17, 1923, typed letter to Director Williams of the Ohio Experiment Station carefully outlining the pros and cons of a proposed National Forest in Ohio. He concludes his letter, “This matter of encouraging or discouraging this proposition is one which yourself and The Board of Control or its Executive Committee should consider. I hope that the matter can be given consideration soon, and a definite policy defined.” The people of Ohio owe much to Secrest for his constant attention to the forest lands of Ohio.
In the 1929 book Common Trees of Ohio, he urges, “It is time to begin a constructive occupancy of the earth. To exist as a Nation, to prosper as a State, and to live as a people, we must have forests. But to have them we must do our part in rebuilding the wrecked and wasted forest areas that now abound everywhere. Forest fires must be stopped. More and better trees must be produced. Existing forests must be handled more wisely. Idle forest land must be put to work. Unless these things are done, forest restoration will not move forward. Our forest slogan should be, ‘Let’s have good forests and get them now’” (page 15).
There are many writings, but one shows an unexpected side of Secrest, an undated, hand-written after-dinner speech that reveals the engaging, tongue-in-cheek attitude of a man with far-reaching experience and ability. Asked to speak on the life of a forester, Secrest begins by suggesting his inability to rise to the heights of literary expertise shown by popular writers of his day, Irvin Cobb and H.G. Wells. After humoring his audience with quips about the two writers, he proceeds to mockingly portray the rugged, poorly paid life of a forester in government service in the longleaf pine forests of the American South and the southern Sierra region. He portrays the forester being lost at night, forced to sleep on the ground, disturbed by the many mosquitos, “They sing a monotonous song these little fellows, not one trying to outdo the other but just the soft kind of song one would expect to sing if they were to keep it up all night!” As Secrest moves through his engaging speech, he shifts near the end to describe the beauty of Western vistas, paraphrasing John Muir in several passages. He concludes on a high note, stating “Then, with fresh heart go down to your work, and whatever your fate, under whatever ignorance or knowledge you may afterward chance to suffer, you will remember this fine wild scene, and look back with joy to your wanderings in the blessed old Rockies.”
It cannot be denied that Edmund Secrest was much more than a common forester. His dedication to his work continued in all he touched. Up next we will look at his many contributions to life in the City of Wooster.
–Pat Warner, Master Gardener Volunteer