cut , it oxidizes quickly and turns a warm amber color . Intensely hard and resistant to rot , early settlers found it was prime for more than just making bows . Sledge hammers , wagon wheel spokes , axe handles and even paving blocks were made from the yellow wood . “ Some people think the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz was inspired by the Bois d ’ Arc blocks they used to pave the roads with here ,” said Baecht , “ There was even a time when banks wouldn ’ t give a home loan unless the foundation was on Bois D ’ Arc .” In the mid 1800 ’ s the seed from the horse apple was exported across the country , particularly throughout the Midwest , to be planted as hedgerow fencing . “ A Bois d ’ Arc hedge was said to be ‘ horse high , hog tight , and bull strong ’,” said Baecht , “ And when barbed wire was invented , the wood made a fence post that wouldn ’ t rot .”
It was an axe that started John Baecht ’ s personal Bois ‘ Arc journey . He was just a kid , he said , when he helped his Dad clear land one day and “ I left my axe out in the weather and ruined the handle . I got in big trouble so I made another handle from Bois d ’ Arc .” He still makes axe handles from Bois d ’ Arc , and so much more . He started making art pieces , he said , only three years ago , inspired by his daughter Tabitha ’ s prize-winning 3-D painting of a Bois d ’ Arc fence row . Already his Bois d ’ Arc artwork has been accepted into the permanent collection of the Valley of the Caddo Museum in Paris , Texas , but he is shy talking it , although he is asked by schools and clubs to do so frequently . Straddling his homemade bench , he demonstrates the techniques he uses to work the wood by hand , coaxing the forms he sees in it out into the world , and continues all the while expounding on the history and virtues of the tree . Then it dawns on me , the inspired art he makes is just a means to an end , a visual draw that brings people in , rewarding John Baecht with another opportunity to share his love of the Bois ’ dArc tree with the world .
( Bois d ’ Arc has entered the modern age . John Baecht can be found on Facebook by searching “ Bois d ’ Arc Kingdom ”, a domain he created , dedicated to this amazing tree , and where the discussions about it are neverending . If you would rather discuss all things Bois d ’ Arc with John Baecht personally , you can find him and his art on the Square in Commerce on the last Saturday in September . See you at the Bash !)
GREENVILLE LIFE 11 SUMMER 2024