By Karen Cernich
The Trees of Treloar Project was unveiled to the public Sunday, Oct. 18, at the 10th annual Treloar Elevator Party hosted by Magnificent Missouri at the Katy Trail trailhead in Treloar. The event, held each year to celebrate the Katy Trail and support the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department, included music performed by the Southwest Watson Sweethearts with Mat Wilson, vintage farm equipment displayed by the Warren County Old Threshers, tram rides on the Katy Trail between Peers Store and the Treloar Mercantile (a 3-mile or so stretch that Magnificent Missouri has named “the Country Store Corridor”) offered by Missouri State Parks, and jalapeño bratwursts prepared by members of the Marthasville Fire Protection District.
“We started the Treloar Elevator Party to celebrate what we are trying to do: conserve and preserve this part of Missouri. We think it’s the most beautiful part of the state.”
Dan said.
“And this year is special, because not only are we supporting the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Company, which does things no one else does for southern Warren County, but we are celebrating this tree planting, the Trees of Treloar.”
Mike Hellebusch and Stephanie Balven, both of Augusta, were driving through Treloar Sunday, Oct. 18, when they noticed people gathered around the Katy Trail trailhead at Treloar and decided to stop. 
Mike has worked in forestry and describes himself as someone who loves trees. As he and Stephanie walked among the Trees of Treloar, Mike shared details about the different species.
“Living in Augusta, we use the Katy Trail quite often, so we love this,”
Stephanie said.
Bill and Joyce Davit, who now live in Krakow, but once called the grounds of Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit home when Bill worked there as a naturalist, feel the same way.
“They picked a good selection of trees,” Joyce said.
Trees along the trail serve a number of purposes, Bill said. They provide shelter and food for wildlife, but they also offer shade and beauty to hikers, runners and cyclists who are using the trail every day.
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