34
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
September/October 2018
FROM THE ARCHIVES
UTILITY SERVICES FOUNDED IN 1921
A new service line took root at
The Davey Tree Expert Company
41 years after John Davey founded
his namesake enterprise.
In 1921 the company embarked on
a new venture – utility line clearance.
That year, Paul H. Davey, over the
objections of his father John and his
brother, Martin L. Davey, Sr., entered
into an agreement with the Northern
Ohio Power and Light Company. The
power company wanted to run new
electric lines in Kent, Ohio, but a
number of trees stood in the way.
That's when Paul saw a business
opportunity for Davey Tree.
At the time, Paul had just been
appointed to the post of commissioner
of shade trees for Kent. As a tree care
expert, he knew the value of healthy,
mature trees. But he also understood
the benefits electricity provided to
a community, so he proposed a
compromise with the electric company.
Fearing the trees would simply be
clear-cut, Paul proposed Davey Tree
prune the trees carefully to maintain
their health and beauty while also
making room for the power lines.
Officials at Northern Ohio Power and
Light agreed, and residents were
overjoyed with the result of getting to
keep the benefits of their trees while
gaining electric power.
Pleasantly surprised, too, were John
and Martin, who had both opposed
entering the utility line clearance
market because of the dim view
they took of the rough way utilities
generally handled trees. Paul showed
them Davey could apply its skill and
expertise to improve tree care in the
utility market.
That first utility contract in Kent quickly
led to more, larger contracts for line
clearing work. By 1960, line clearance
amounted to 60 percent of Davey
Tree's business – underscoring the
important role Utility services has
played throughout the history of
the Davey Company.
Above: A Davey tree surgeon works above
utility lines in this undated image from the
Davey Archives.
Below: Paul H. Davey, Sr., was instrumental
in the growth and development of The Davey
Tree Expert Company in the early to mid-1900s
and first pushed the business into the utility
line clearance market.
