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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,897 posts)
Thu Jun 29, 2017, 12:48 PM Jun 2017

'I feel as if I lost a member of my family': A tree older than the U.S. falls in Washington

Also seen at Erik Wemple's Twitter feed:

Great yatn from @justinwmmoyer on a centuries-old tree, no longer.





‘I feel as if I lost a member of my family’: A tree older than the U.S. falls in Washington
By Justin Wm. Moyer June 28 at 1:03 PM



The centuries-old tree on Floral Street had to be removed because of a large split that developed. (Calla Kessler/The Washington Post)

Before 9/11, the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, the World Wars, the Civil War — indeed, before the United States or the District of Columbia existed — a red oak tree began to grow on what would become the 1300 block of Floral Street NW.

For centuries, a flaw in the tree’s structure left it destined to develop a split it couldn’t survive. On Tuesday morning, part of the tree crashed to the ground in the quiet Shepherd Park neighborhood between 16th Street and Georgia Avenue. ... Now, only a stump remains.

No one was injured, and property damage was limited. But for the first time since the 1600s, this small patch of land cherished by generations of neighbors sits treeless.

“What a tragedy,” said John Anna of Adirondack Tree Experts, the company contracted to complete the $12,000 removal job. “That’s one less majestic tree.” ... Anna said the red oak — about 325 years old — was one of the oldest trees he’s seen in his 30 years in the region.
....



Bob Bykowski, the father of one of the house owners on whose home part of the tree fell, takes photos of the removal on Floral Street. (Calla Kessler/The Washington Post)
....

Justin Wm. Moyer is a reporter for The Washington Post. Follow @justinwmmoyer
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'I feel as if I lost a member of my family': A tree older than the U.S. falls in Washington (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2017 OP
I Hope They Use The Wood For Something Me. Jun 2017 #1
what a beautiful thing it was. niyad Jun 2017 #2
There's a tree in Athens GA that owns itself underpants Jun 2017 #3
Oh WOW! Near my DC neighborhood! elleng Jun 2017 #4
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