Suffield Elm Bench, 2010 on loan from City Bench
“The bench was fabricated by City Bench of Higganum, CT, from the largest American elm in Connecticut. The tree grew on the Coulter property, a generational farm in Suffield, on which Norm Coulter, 87, still works today. In the fall of 2009, the tree had to be brought down after becoming a hazard in the location. The artisans from City Bench counted 148 growth rings when they examined the tree’s massive trunk. With its wine glass shape and ample shade, the American elm was the tree of choice for American cities and college campuses for generations until the introduction of Dutch elm disease in the 1930s. City Bench’s mission is three-fold: to create beautiful and sustainable furniture using salvaged urban tress, create an artistic and culture hub employing local craftspeoople and maintain the vitality of the urban forest. To learn more about City Bench, and to see other examples of their work visit city-bench.com.
