at first glance I thought this a mulberry but too late for fruit this time of year, and they look like little pine cones and are hard. I can't say the size of the tree because it was topped, and not mature yet I think.
It had ripe 'cones', and green ones and also the stringy things were some green and some dark and dried out.

Birch?

Birch

did not have papery bark though?

Looks like Spaeth's alder.

From the shape of the leaves, I would say it's more likely to be European Alder.

http://www.tree-guide.com/alde...

http://www.tree-guide.com/euro...

http://www.tree-guide.com/spae...

That seems more right, the bark looks right.

Thank you!

Edited; oops, wrong thread.