St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-02-25
The "Old Elm" at Boston.

BoSton> Ncnclation for her old land
marks has seldom received such Il shock
a> WAS given it by the blast that blew
down the old elm on th" common. Tues.
day evening. The trunk WAS shattered
10y the fall. and it had hardly stric4a the
ground before there was a rush Or fen8-'
hunters. who started off with pieces
from the size OF II twig To an arIn6ai'1utti
Il guard of policemen had To .e6'B8t
around it at last. The tree has been
known aS far back aS tradition can 90.
and il represented a> of considerable
size upon the oldest map of the town
known Ia exist. which WAS engraved in
l1:G2. 1t is reasonable to believe that
il was CROWN" before the arrival of the
first colnni>tS. Upon its limbs it i> sup
posed that some of the early executions
in the old colony took place. and il is
certain that during the revolutionary
struggles of America this tree WAS one
of the places of constant resort of the
sous of liberty. who frequently illuni-
mated it with lanterns on evenings of
rejoicing and te<ial occasions. 1t also
served the purpose of popular mdigna-
ton. for many Il tory has been hung in
ctfigN from lis branches. Perhaps on
this account it acquired the name lib
erty tree. which il bore in I1Sl. The
first measurement of the great tree. OF
which an account WAS made. was taken
i'll l-25. when it, hight WAS 10 feet. cir
cumtcIcmcc II feet : inches. > feet Il
inches from the ground. and the
branches extended III diameter III feet.
1t WAS as handsome in form a> large in
size and venerable in age. Measure
mcntS III lSll showed that the tree had
not ceased To grow. In the summer of
lS:2 ii WAS much injured 10y the Violcscc
of Il storm. and its largest limbs were 50
much cleft aSundcr ;IS to allow them to
rest three branches upon the ground.
hut they were subsequently. at much
cost and labor. restored to thriI former
position. and were sustained 10y iron
bolts and braces. 1t wa> again dis
mrmhcrcd 10y the gale of June. 1850.
aud its beauty waS destroyed. The
cavity III the trunk was filled with eight
cart loads of material. ON the great
branch that WAS blown of 800 rings
could Ice counted. BY the gale of Sep
temhcr. 1850. Il large limb. measuring
II inches III circumference. waS blown
off. Up to lS:8O the ground around the
tree WAS SwampN. and the COWS past,lr-
ed On the common used to find shelter
hcncath its branches Under the reign
of Mayor Otis. in l-:HI. the COWS We're
baniShcd. and the low land around the
tree was filed up. In I-54 Mayor Smith
had the tree pluurd and cared for. and
placed around ii au octag6nal fence.
which bore Il suitable inscription. 1t is
proposed that the wood shall he given to
distinguished men. members of the
Boston city government and others, but
the applications for pieces are already
so numerous that they will all have To
he small, if every body is satisfied. 1t
is thought that some pieces of furniture
may he made. to be placed in the city
hall and the state house. and il is proba-
Bile that Il relic will find its way to the
centennial exhibition. The wicked
gamimS have picked up considerable
quantity of elm wood elsewhere and
sold it to the unwaIy aS from the old
elm. The sorrow of Boston at its loss
is mitigatcd Il little 10y the fact that Il
sapliug. about ten years old. that SprIng
from the old tree. is still living.