If you have walked around the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and have a keen eye, you may have noticed a variety of nut trees during your stroll. Black walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, butternuts, and hickories are spread throughout the grounds, particularly near the gravesite. This was all done according to the wishes of Herbert Hoover, but the story of the creation of the Nut Grove is a winding one.
It all started with a letter. On September 17, 1964, about one month before his passing, Herbert Hoover sent his son Allan possibly his final written communication to his second-born child. In it, he expressed his wishes to have Iowa nut trees planted around the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. Along with the type of nut trees he would like to see planted, Hoover wrote, “This was nut country and it ought to be restored for the pleasure of some small boys.”
Many would think that the existence of this letter would quickly dictate the action to be taken, but it would disappear and not resurface for 35 years. It was in 1999 that Floyd Fawcett, an original member of the Hoover Birthplace Society, was cleaning out his filing cabinet and found the letter among his paperwork. In it, Herbert Hoover made it very clear about his hope that “the Directors at West Branch ought to plant the different Iowa nut trees in the park around the Library.”
Herbert Hoover’s letter to his son Allan mentioning his wishes for nut trees to be planted around the Library.
Ken Fawcett, son of Floyd and Hoover Presidential Foundation Trustee, said his dad and Allan Hoover were close and had a lot of respect and confidence in each other. Ken reflected, “Allan Hoover would come out to our place, and dad would be in overalls. And Allan would be in a suit and tie and his sporty rental car. He looked like a farmer, and Allan looked like a businessperson. They got along so well together. They looked out for each other.”
This letter was brought to the attention of then Superintendent of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Carol Kohan, and plans were made to bring to life one of the last wishes of Herbert Hoover. On Saturday, April 22, 2000, the National Park Service with the help of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, University of Iowa honor students, 4-H, Iowa Earth Year 2000, and other members in the surrounding community planted most of the trees that are part of the Nut Grove.
Over the course of that week, 200 trees in total were planted. This was done with the help of Ed Vandermillen, president of the board of directors for Cascade Forestry of Cascade, Iowa, who was also a former forester with the US Forest Service. Not only did Cascade Forestry supply the trees, but Ed took the time to instruct the volunteers on how to properly plant them.
This was not the first effort to create a nut grove in the park. In the early 1970s, planners designated an area southwest of the gravesite for this purpose, because it was felt to be an ideal location. The trees planted did not survive, and the idea was forgotten until Floyd Fawcett found the letter in his filing cabinet.
The Nut Grove trees located southwest of the gravesite
True to Herbert Hoover’s wishes, the nuts being produced by those planted trees can be harvested. According to the National Park Service, one half gallon per person per day of nuts and a bushel per person per day for black walnuts can be harvested from the park. The collection needs to be done by hand, and the use of bush rakes or other harvesting devices is prohibited. Normally, harvesting is not allowed in property maintained by the National Park Service, but because of the nature of Hoover’s request, it is allowed.
It is also important to note that the nuts can only be gathered from the Nut Grove and only be used for personal use, not commercial. The trees can be found southwest and east of the gravesite. It is important to adhere to this, as some of the nuts outside this area could be poisonous. If you have any doubt about where you can harvest, ask a Park Ranger.
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