The Dawes Arboretum’s Hedge Letters were planted in March of 1942. Over the years, this site on our grounds has become a visitor favorite with the intense size of these hedge letters. Beman Dawes, our co-founder, had a vision for every pilot and passenger flying overhead to read the letters and know they were just above The Arboretum. In 1939, Ohio State University student, Charles Jones, helped to design the landscape for the hedge letters as well as the Buckeye 17 area on grounds for his civil engineering class. Jones, the son of Harry Jones and superintendent of The Arboretum at the time, drew up the plans for both regions.
Beman's son-in-law, David Harold Young, was a pilot and flew with the 35th Aero Squadron and 96th Aero Bombing Squadron during World War 1. After the war, he worked for The Pure Oil company, which his father-in-law was president and chairman of at the time, and helped to create the aviation department within the company. His hand also greatly helped the completion of the hedge letters and ensured Dawes’ vision.
At first, the letters just read “DAWES” and later a total of 1,367 Thuja occidentalis, also known as northern white-cedar, were planted spelling out “ARBORETUM.” This later addition took longer to implement due to The Great Depression and the hardships that stemmed from the time period.
Beman was very involved with the placing of the letters. These evergreen species used for the letters are a rapidly growing species. After 60 years, the plants grew to an unmanageable size and in 1990 and 1991 volunteers replanted the entire hedge letters with dwarf selection Woodward American arborvitae.
Today, the letters can be seen from the walking path next to them or climb up the observation tower that will allow for visitors to overlook them entirely. Either way, these are a staple must see on your next visit to The Arboretum!