The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-01-30
AN INDIANA WONDER.
A Silver Maple Takes Root on n Court
House Spire and Flourishes.

A Silver Maple Takes Root on Court
House Spire and Flourishes.
Greensburg is beautiful little city of
four thousand inhabitants, located in
southeastern Indiana. 1t is the county
seat of Decatur County, and both city
and county were settled mostly by per-
sons hailing from Pennsylvania and the
blue grass regions of Kentucky. The
name Greensburg was given when the
site was located by Mrs. Thomas Hem
bricks, aunt of Hon. Thomas Hendricks,
late candidate for Vice President, in
memory of her native place, Greensbhrg,
Pennsylvania. There were several con-
petitors for the honor of giving the
name, but the matter was decided by
vote. As Mrs. Hendricks had several
comely grown daughters, and as such
were scarce in the new settlement, her
wishes carried the day.
Time passed, and the county, having
passed through its stage of log and brick J,
court house, must needs have one to cor
respond with the intelligent and wealthy
population to which it had attained, SO
the Commissioners went to work, and in !,
1862 completed temple of fjusIice which
was at that time the finest and most cost
ly in the State. 1t occupies the public
square" in the centre of the city, and is
surrounded by grove of beautiful forest )
trees, inclosed with an iron fence. The
principal front of the building is east,
and from that point there springs a tower
which reaches height of one hundred
and forty feet. One, hundred aud five
feet from the ground is the watershed
of the tower, and above that it is covered
with dressed stone, made to fit closely
in slabs two by FIVE feet, incliniDg at an :
angle of about thirty degrees from
upright. y
In the summer of 1870 citizen of the
place was examining the tower with a
glass when he observed, >springing from
the third crevice about the watershed
on the east side of the tower, ITO feet
from the ground, little twig. But lit
tie was thought oft, and it was scarcely
discernible with the naked eye. The
next spring some interest was exhibited
to know if the miniature tree in its
strange and exposed position had sur
vived the wintry blast. 1t had survived,
and when sun and spring showers came;
on, put out its leaves plentifully and
grew lu1uriantly sll the season. By
this time it was easily seen with the eye, {
but as it could not be approached in any
ordinary manner nearer than from the
roofs of buildings on the opposite side
ofthe street, its species could not be as-f
certained. The third spring it put forth
again with renewed life, vigor and size. Z
Instead of dwindling and dropping from
the effects of the winters cold or the esum-
mer's heat and drouth, the atmosphere.
of Justice from below seemed to cause
it TO flourish extraordinarily. This sea-
son it was decided to be a silver maple,
sprung, no doubt, from seed carried
by bird or whirlwind, and lodged in
that exalted place.
By this time the tree had become fa.a
nous. Accounts of it had appeared in
the papers, but the story was not gen.
orally believed. But, nevertheless, the ?
tree lived and grew. Itwas there, and
no mistake. And SO it has continued
until this day. 1t is now more than
twelve feet high, and it is thought to be
three inches in diameter The top
is quite bushy, and, in the summer sea-
son, the leaves are numerous and lux
uriant. 1t can be seen for many miles
around, and the stranger approaching
first sees the tower, and then this strange
phenomenon beckoning him over. Pas
sengers passing on the train, who have
heard ofthe wonderful tree, ask FREE :
quently concerning it, and trains have
even been stopped by accommodating
conductors until the skeptical could be
convinced. The rapid growth of the
tree is forcing the stone apart. This
can readily be seen with glass.
Ere long the ambitious maple will
have to be brought lower, or damage to
the building follow. The Sheriff has all
ready had several applications from ex-
pert climbers to take it down, but the
people will not permit their tree to be-
removed yet. An artist representing
New York illustrated paper called to,
sketch the curiosity. but the leaves were
of, and be postponed it until more IA
vorable time. Persons approaching the
place from Cincinnati get good view
of it by looking from the north windows
as they draw near Greensburg. Of
course it appears to much greater advan-s
tage when in full leaf, and at such a
time it is indeed strange curiosity.
Chicago Times Greensburg Letter.
Il