Basking Ridge White Oak Tree facts for kids
The Basking Ridge White Oak Tree was a very old and well-known tree in New Jersey, United States. It grew in the churchyard of the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge. This amazing white oak tree was over 600 years old! Sadly, it died in 2016 and was cut down in 2017. It stood about 97 feet (30 meters) tall. Many people thought it might have been the oldest white oak tree in the whole world.
A Tree Through History
The Old Oak Tree stood in the historic graveyard of the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge. This tree saw many important moments in American history.
Famous Visitors
In 1740, two famous preachers, George Whitefield and James Davenport, spoke under the tree. About 3,000 people came to listen to them. This event was part of a big religious movement called the First Great Awakening.
Later, during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington's soldiers trained nearby. Washington himself even had a picnic under the tree with Lafayette. In 1781, about 5,500 French troops marched past the tree. They were on their way to the Battle of Yorktown. This was a very important battle in the war.
What the Tree Looked Like
The Basking Ridge White Oak Tree was also called the "Holy Oak." When it died in 2016, it was 619 years old. It stood 97 feet (30 meters) tall. The bottom part of its trunk was very wide, about 20 feet (6 meters) around. Its branches spread out over 130 feet (40 meters). In its last years, some of its lower branches needed metal bars to help support them.
The End of a Legend
In June 2016, people noticed the tree was not doing well. Its top branches did not grow leaves. By September 2016, the tree had completely died. It took three days to carefully cut down the huge tree. The work was finished on April 26, 2017. A new, young white oak tree was planted in the churchyard. This new tree grew from an acorn of the old, famous oak.
