Community reluctantly bidding farewell to 600-year-old tree
BERNARDS, N.J. — For hundreds of years, an imposing white oak tree has watched over a New Jersey community and a church, providing protection from the blazing summer sun, serving as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photos and — according to legend — was a picnic site for George Washington.
But the tree — believed to be among the oldest in the nation — is not long for its place in the church graveyard that it’s called home for 600 years. Crews are due Monday at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards to begin removing the tree.
The two to three days of chopping and pulling will draw attention from residents of a bedroom community about 30 miles (48 kilometres) west of New York that has long celebrated its white oak. It’s been the place to go for formal photos, a landmark for driving directions and a remarkable piece of natural history.
“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.