The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-09-18
FALL OF THE OLD CHARTER OAK

The famous old Charter Oak of this city,
so noted in song and history, fell with tre
mendous crash, this morning, August 81,
1860
This noble old tree stood upon the grounds
of Hon. Isaac w. Stuart, in the southern
rart of the city. About three years ago,
some boys built fire in the hollow of this
tree, which burnt out the punk, and though
it was feared that this would kill it, such was
not the fact Fresh sprouts sprung out the
next spring, and Mr.. Stuart took great pains
to preserve this valued relic of the original
forests of New England, but more especially
intere sting as the tree in which the old Brit
ish Charter Of Come cticut was secreted and
preserved. At this time the hollow in the
trunk Of the old oak was so large, that a fire
company of 81 full grown men stood up in il
together.
Mr. Stuart had stout door made to shut
up the entrance, and he also placed tin cups
upon the stumps of broken limbs, and for the
past three or four years. fresh sprouts have
grown upon most of its limbs. though other
limbs were decaying. At the time of its fall,
young and fresh acorns were growing on ev-
cry part OF it.
The wind had been blowing freshly from
the northwest for an hour or more. First a
loud crack, and the Old Oak swaying in the
breeze a cracking noise followed, then the
crash--all within the space of half a minute
and the famous monarch of the forest,
whose history is so intimately intwined in
that of Connecticut, was PROSTATE upon the
earth One thousand years ago. when it was
/ in the prime Of lle-when its years were
/ half numbered--its fir-reaching branches
! had sported in liercer storms, and more swift
winged winds. But now, since full two thou
sand years have smiled and waned upon the
/ youth, its prime, and its decline, it had be-
come gray and decropt, but was still tena-
cious Of life it still cung to the spot which
gave it birth. Firmly, aye, proudly, the Oak
stood, seemingly conscious that destiny had
accorded TO it an everlasting Historic page
in the story of Connectcut--one of the OH
ginal thirteen States of the Union.
Before Governor WHY'S came to America,
he sent his st, wa'd forward to prepare a
place for his residence. AS bc was cutting
away the trees upon the hillside of the beau
tiful "Wyllys place." deputa,ion Of In
dians came to lin and requested that he
would spare this ol | hollow Oak. They de-
,lared that it had " been the guide OF tEeir
ancestors for centuries" The tree measured
50 feet in circumference at tie bottom and
il has broken off so as TO ltaye 9 feet Of stump
on one side and feet on the oher-the
stump measuring Q feet in circumference at
its top.
The Charter of King Charles the @ for
rsI; IcS, IN H. - e.
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w T
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s,,o,os.o." - ~ ~ ,i;nlJ I' ,Lo;. ,ho;.
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"..."ue y "lponIL"s ~" = ,''ec ~ ar
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'a ~. ~ P'.Se, '' Pn:i P,,'';. '-e ,;lsI
=. ''e Ps0r'e li"ny ~ ltoe' a. =.
~ 40 @ "rs l.
III N!e S.'le'aiy :i III o"'o u'ilSe, "iele ''s
o.,'I%' 'oPy 10 s'I, e. 'su WIN tA'e .ei -,
was sue eaH'o "a" VI GGu"eIsoU' Ia Tue
PIseHt Coo onS'I'@S.on .T0S Us P'aev III o.
, ~. me oi -,c
- '"U " 40 U'sSI!,." =! y",lIS llt ~ 1"H
anew n, government was .HsI'u'Co win CosePA
Duuley as fies'oeht Oh Ihe Commissioners
Eohncc1,cu' feiuseu 10 SURRENDER anu "hch
Ine thl,u WI! OF quo "arrahto was SEM 10 her'
GoV' treat IN January 1851 called n spe,,
c'a' session ol 'hg Assehoiy' "hich Teius'u
TO &c, acceae 10 inc demands oil the new kng'-
lhey sun heia 10 'helr Char'er' In March
an0'her special session was convened, but
sun the representatives OF the people refused
surrender In May they met again IN
regular session. under The Ohafter' and re,
electeo 1Ieas as Uonefnor. on The olst OF
a octooer' 1887 or Edmund Andross' attend
f ed oy members OF his Council and body
guard OF sixty soldiers entered Hartford 10
iii aonyt m H. h,t n .siJn " ""S .ooI ,t
AsaanoLin ~, ' onI u unII;.,,. JeJeI .Le .he
q Gb"s.a! iou.i' poP Gnu Puo"Vly uem"nIeu Ie s 'ns