The Peters Township home where Dr. Joseph Falbo lives was built in 1795, and he was recently “shocked” to learn that two trees on the property may be as old as the house itself.

Two ginkgo trees form a natural gateway to the front of Falbo’s house on Bebout Road. The trees and other natural elements provide a lot of privacy, as the house is difficult to see from the street.

Tom Sierzega is a friend of Falbo and asked if he could examine the trees to determine their age.

“We were very happy to do that,” said Falbo.

Sierzega is a member of the Peters Township Environmental Quality Committee, which has undertaken a project to determine the age of some of the oldest trees in the area. They have determined the approximate age of 15 trees, all located on the property of township residents.

“We came to the conclusion that, given the current developments, it is important to save some of these older trees and let people know that they exist and the benefits they provide,” Sierzega said.

The study of trees in the community began before the pandemic, which put the project on hold.

“After COVID, we started again and have now completed the identification of the trees,” Sierzega said.

To determine the age of the trees, Sierzega worked with Dr. Jason Kilgore, chair of the biology department at Washington & Jefferson College. Kilgore had a formula and the equipment needed to get the job done.

The ginkgos at Falbo’s house were dated to about 1795. The oldest tree they examined was a white oak on Kimber Drive that has survived since colonial times. Kilgore and Sierzega believe the tree was planted about 1695.

The formula Kilgore uses is to multiply the diameter of the tree by the tree’s “growth factor.” He explained that each species of tree has a different growth factor. For example, a white oak has a growth factor of five. So a white oak with a 20-inch diameter would be about a century old.

To determine the diameter, Kilgore says they use a tape measure at chest height (4 feet 5 inches) to measure the circumference of the tree.

The growth factor is also affected by the tree’s environment and whether it gets enough sun and water. Kilgore said they couldn’t take all of these factors into account, but the trees they studied were in good condition.

“Many of these trees were growing in an open location. They were surrounded by grass,” Kilgore said.

Falbo is an optometrist who operates Family Eyecare North in Seven Fields, Butler County. He describes himself as a history buff, particularly American history. The age of the Bebout house was part of its appeal when he and his wife moved there in 1996.

According to Falbo, they have a Pennsylvania deed and a survey from March 1785, when the property was 393 acres. He notes that the original deed actually placed the house in Virginia territory.

“The only original documents were kept in the courthouse in Virginia, which unfortunately burned down during the Civil War,” Falbo said.

The ginkgos had always caught their eye, but Falbo was surprised to hear how old they actually were.

“I was really pleased to hear that they have been here for so long, but a little surprised that they are so old because they look so alive and healthy,” said Falbo.

Kilgore explained that these large tree species are beneficial to their environment. They sequester significantly more carbon than smaller trees and produce abundant insects for birds.

“A large white oak tree produces thousands of larvae of many different species that can then be eaten by birds,” Kilgore said.

To that end, Kilgore hopes other communities will follow Sierzega’s example and begin studying their own trees.

“I think what Tom is doing is novel and monumental because he is trying to convince landowners to save their trees. Their large trees have great ecological value,” Kilgore said.