Lpinkmountain has given you a bunch of good suggestions, (& probably Eric also, though I didn't follow his links.) I have several additions of native trees, most of which I grow. Oxydendron arboreum would probably stay within your size requirements. Acer pensylvanicum tops out at about 35', has green and white striped bark, decorative dangling clusters of spring flowers (tho small and green) and yellow fall color and is a woodland native. Several native viburnums are small to medium, multistemmed trees: V. lantana, V. cassinoides &/or nudum (taxonomy is up in the air), V. prunifolium. all have white spring flowers in flat panicles, late summer to fall berries, and good fall color. Prunus americana, flowering plum, is a small native spring flowering tree with pink to white blooms. I don't know if it meets your requirement of long-lived, but the ones I know have been around 20+ years and are still plugging away. I didn't find any reference to how long they typically live. I don't know if you want to consider them as well, but there are some native large shrubs that include Clethra alnifolia (likes wetlands, has white to pink late summer flowers and golden fall foliage), Fothergilla major (white spring flowers and red to orange fall color), several of the native deciduous rhododendrons, rhus typhina (staghorn sumac, which suckers, but has the most gorgeous fall colors of any plant I know), Ilex verticillata (deciduous, nonprickly winter berry holly), and high bush blueberries. One additional note: I have Cornus alternifolia growing in full sun and full shade and every light level in between, and it's truly a four season tree: creamy white panicles of spring flowers, late summer berries (dark blue with bright red stems) and nice overall shape, peachy fall foliage, and great winter branch structure. It's fuller in sun than in shade, had more blooms, and is nicer foliage color.

Carpinus caroliniana is not a "glamor" tree, so many nurseries don't stock it. Blooms are insignificant, I don't think any have been bred for their sometimes gorgeous fall colors. They don't grow fast, and the world is into instant. Tonight I heard a program talking about trees that fall onto houses, power lines, etc. They spoke to a tree expert from NH who specifically mentioned C.caroliniana as a desirable tree to plant. And I had to love her when she mentioned avoiding fast growing trees that provide instant gratification and fall when the wind blows. She was also decidedly cool to conifers, mentioning White Pine as brittle and prone to breakage. Another point was that any tree within 15 ft of a house was too close.

Do you intend to continue using the fire pit? If so, I would discourage you planting any tree that would overhang it. However, disregarding that, I would say that one of your best choices in a deciduous tree would be a Yellowwood (Cladrastis lutea aka Cladrastis kentukea). Hardy to Zone 4. It would fit the space without overwhelming the house as it got older. Good fall color and shade. It is also a great flowering tree. The flowers look like white wisteria flowers. The seeds are in small pea pods and do not require much cleanup. This is a deep rooted tree that will not give you sidewalk or foundation problems. They are native to the Ohio valley area. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a270/cladrastis-kentukea.aspx For an evergreen choice I would recommend a fir. In my area the Whit Fir (Abies concolor) would be our go to fir but in Michigan there may be others that are better for the area. The fir is a nice conical tree that would give you the same shape as the blue spruce you lost but is a better behaved tree. Blue spruce tend to get scraggy and sparse as they age. Firs do not. White firs will want to branch low to the ground like the spruce but will not spread a far wide as the spruce. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/c201/abies-concolor.aspx Because the tree would be close to your house, I would be worried about the shallow roots that most evergreen have. They tend to raise sidewalks and damage foundations. You can encourage a deeper root system by keeping the root zone moist but this is not going to overcome the nature of the tree to have shallow roots. There is a relatively deep rooted evergreen that you might consider. That would be the Incense Cedar (Libocedrus decurrens aka Calocedrus decurrens). This is a native of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. They have fronds like Arborvita rather than needles like other evergreens. This tree has deep roots and would not be a problem for sidewalks and foundations. It can get quite tall, 50 feet our so, but does not spread more that 10 or 15 feet in cultivation. It is very drought tolerant and can handle large snow loads. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a156/calocedrus-decurrens.aspx I hope this helps.

Hi, Thanks for the responses. Yes, thanks for the link Jill, very helpful list. I am considering an ilex glabra instead of a thorny bush due to the full shade location. The roses, raspberries and hawthornes would seem to need more sun. I always wanted to try a currant which is a Ribes, isn't it? I just know we have pine trees in the neighboring yards, and Ribes I believe is an alternative host to that pine pest, forget the name. It is not recommended around pines in this area. Thanks again for the help. Adam