New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
THE PASSING OF THE QUEEN ELM
FAMOUS SPRINGFIELD TREE NAMED BY Oh
HOLMES.

From The Springfield Republican.
Tho removal OF few local landmarks has exci.se
more local interest than the cutting down OF Wv
mighty ana majes d6S 1 en- EIm-st bn tn tree was
probably OF 81 eater size than any OF is So"e,"s
rsmet Snrncdeld has many tall and heautfI
trees but this has long been her spe, IA. pru n,
more symmetrical and attFactve EN- 10 LOT IN he
street II has long been known a the GueeJw .
dell Holmes as early as 1888 Holmes had tIaNe..s
over New England but in all his travels was n
able TO find an elm TO match this one. His refer eie,,
ence 10 it in his "Autocrat OF the Breakfast Tape
what made the tree famous, ana tn' nsn.
E siwSyS as Su the Washinston elm but just why n,
name applied is not apparent for Nnle " as
thf ctV tyadtion does NOT claim f6r The any
other connection with the Father OF GU, al s,,u
The name could only have been attached 10 II iIo%
a confusion with the elm IN the southwest eotae.
OF Court Square which history tells us sou mem
Washington paid his visit TO this city after Wv
According TO the measurements made before w
work ~ cutting off the limbs was begun. me en-
lol feet inches high and had GRIN OF AV 0ss
% feet between and feet above the srVun no, tsr
foot from the ground its cir W b mink and nd Just
beneath where the branches fork It's grin ,S SO arc
81 feet. The two large main branches when ,on,
now part, lly cut on shot up TO neisnS OK esssr
branches They bent gracefully in all dec Srn.t
foliage assume much the shape OF hugSs oN cIrcls
The spread OF the tree probably covered T S.i,
with a diameter OF not less than lSV teet. "a .ast
Holmes measured the in 1859 IL grthed - "a "a
4 inches at the base, and feet from the gIVus,,
"a feet inches The same year the state gv' -
Il report trees and shrubs. In which TINS Gnu .ss
credited with having the largest actual grim - Wv
base OF any elm In the country. that
The older residents OF the city Will remeihoe' go
once in the centennial year OF 1876, THIS greHt
the pride OF the city. came very near III, Elm.
woodlands axe laid against Its mighty truhn, Al.
St was that year being improved ana enc into
bert d. Briggs was Mayor. and as ne caihe rnowi
Court Square one morning he saw great ~ ~ IA
gathered about the Elm-st monarch Has'enhhss en
cutting at It's base He at gave orders 20 pa Us
vent anything OF this kind. and the great w.. ,nta
stood az a much-admired ornament 10 me csyorats
II is now a fallen giant, vanquished Oy co'p
use OF the streets. 4. Il IN.
In connection with the size OF the tree - "a
teresting to note the observations or man W." si-
had the fortune TO the great reiwoois q. Isyi-
fornia. He says that the lower limbs OF WrnnrE az
our great elm tree. After look at inc ti,.a the
the elm 1t takes vivid imagination 10 I.s .n,nty
size OF the California wonders protnlheit ,nanv
official who has the tree almost daly ~. IL
years. said few days ago that he reInenloea s III
away back I'm the fortes and II seemed JUS, JUS Eoc{
to him then "a now. The late Colonel h0ne aren
told friend some years ago that ne cVe hs could
Der the time when II OF such size una ~ have
throw a stone over II easily but " w ou'u unpef
taken extraordinary throw to ciear "' WV
branches In recent years. -, .hoda Of
Since It's death the tree had become Wy The Sec
a swarm OF bees and during the last week ,mo vas
ton OF large hollow limb in which the nav ereat
located was sealed and cut or wltnou. a. ~ the
discomfort 10 the workmen. though SON. ahont the
ears OF the despoers OF their home l ht,low and
OF limbs already cut off nearly an n.'S lawn Il.
II Is cvpected that when the trunk Is Cue lection
TOO. Will be found 70 be shell. 81 IN the Ar
Is TO be cut out polished and preserved ~, bes uti.
Museum as memento OF Sprlngfelds moS'
full and famous elm.