The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-09-15
WHOLE NO. 1885.
The Charter Oak.


Thirty years ago to-day, August q,
/ 1886. the famous Charter Oak fell in a
severe gale. The Charter Oak was the
most famous tree in america. and one oi
the most eeiebrattd objects in the his
tory of this country The liberal and
sriceless charter Of the colony was hid
dsa in its venerable trunk almost exact
" 3oo years ago, and 80 escaped the ef-
forts of Sir Edmond Andres 10 take il
away and dissolve the government which
was maintained under 1t: Our charter Of
1862, to which We art indebted for the
welcome and ENJOYABLE compsEnionship
of New Haven in Connecticut, differed
from that of Massachusetts, in that no
veto power was reserved in England. and
the people were given freedom of action
in the choice of officers and manage ment
of their own affairs.
When Ansiros WIS sent over in 1850 to
be Governor Of New England be made
demands for the surrender Of this char
ter, but failed to get il, and 50 came after
IT, II Is Of interest to observe that he
came from Massachusetts, via Providence
and New London, taking the popular
Shore Line route to that point, but from
there--the Valley rad, younger enter
prise, Rot having been constructesi-he
struck acrC~e country and came to Weth-
ersfiel,i, and thence 10 Hartford He WAS
received cordially on the slst of October,
1857, and escorted Ia the city by troop
OF horse" The Governors Guard did not
turn out on that occasion, partly because
they We're unwilling 90 welcome an in
trtider, and partly, and no doubt prinei-
paIly, because they were not in existence
until i77l. He came a century or ~ too
early He WAS escorted TO the meeting
house and the charter was produced in
the evening. Captain Joseph WadswoTth
cut the wire that supplied the electric
light, and before the connection could be
made again. be had the document safe in
his arms and was rushed down Main
street in bol,-ttil horse-s,slr. the driver
Of which refused, for that trip only. to
notice the calls of pedestrians for him Ia
stop. Jumping of al Charter Oak street.
~ named bes.luse the tree was growing
close by there. he hid the charter in it,
ample recesSeS. and beat a retreat H. well
~ E.9fuood AnJru.
Professor Brccklesby has estimated
that the tree was 1000 wears old when it
fell That would make it 1000 wears old
now. There are many specimens of it in
existence. Mark Twain informed Gen
eral Grant that the East Hartford bridge
was made Of It's wood That, however,
was mistake. The largest quantity Of
the genuine tree is seen III the great chair
of thel Senate chamber at the Capital,
which is made entirely # the real wood.
A few years ago there were specimens in
almost every house in the city, but, as
the interest in the tree and it history has
grown, the zeal 10 preserve small pieces
has apparently declined. perhaps because
wood has risen to Sl2 a cord hereabouts-
The Andres usurpltion beeslme a mere
incident in our history Had he secured
the charter perhaps il might have been
different. As it was he appointed the ex-
isting officers to place in the government
under him, and his brief attempt to rule
for two yearsamOunied 10 nothing The
charter thus preserved u until the Con-
stitution Of lsls was adopted. and l. still
10 be seen in the office of the Secretary
of the State in the Capitol. set in frame
which unfortunately r. not, as ii should
be, of the original oak.