Oak tree where George Washington had picnic cut down
BERNARDS, N.J. — A white oak tree — believed to be one of the oldest trees in North America — that stood in the cemetery of a New Jersey church began its descent Monday as crews started to cut it down.
The 600-year-old tree, known as the Great White Oak, was dying. It began to show rot and weakness over the last couple of years.
The tree had stood for three centuries when the founders of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church decided to build the first church, a long cabin, by it in 1717. Since then, two new church buildings were constructed and a cemetery was located under its sprawling branches.
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The tree gained its historical significance by being a natural landmark where people gathered. In 1740, the Rev. George Whitefield, an evangelist, preached to about 3,000 people under the three. Officials say that during the American Revolution, Gen. George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette had a picnic under the tree.
In the last several years, the tree began to suffer from poor health. The leaf cover began to dissipate and arborists declared that the end was near.
The sad operation began Monday morning and is expected to continue through Tuesday. Television news helicopters hovered over the scene about 30 miles west of New York.
Some tree fans visited the tree to say goodbye to their close friend.
"I know it seems funny to some to mourn a tree, but I'm really going to miss seeing it," said Bernards resident Monica Evans, recalling family photos during weddings and communions.
The tree stands about 100 feet tall, has a trunk circumference of 18 feet and has a branch spread of roughly 150 feet. Officials say the crews plan to initially remove the large limb segments until there is a large trunk section still standing, then remove that section in one piece.
Its death was probably because of its age. Arborists determined it wouldn't be able to withstand many more harsh winters or spring storms.
"It has been an integral part of the town, that's for sure," said Jon Klippel, a member of the church's planning council. "It has always been there, even before there was a town, and over the years many people have met there, been photographed there, had a meal under the tree. We've been blessed to have it here."
The church is making sure that the cycle of life is not ending.
Dr. Thomas M. Ombrello, a biology professor at Union County College, collected acorns from the old tree in 2001 and created a sapling that was planted in the tree grove on the college's Cranford, N.J., campus. The new 16-year-old, 20-foot-tall oak will be transported to the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church to continue growing in a spot near its predecessor.
Experts say fewer trees are replicating the old oak's 600-year lifespan. They note that several factors — including droughts, intensive wildfires and invasive insects — can greatly harm trees, which become more susceptible to damage as they age.
Contributing: The Associated Press. Follow Mike Deak on Twitter: @MikeDeakMyCJ