Boyington Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boyington Oak |
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The Boyington Oak in 2009.
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 Boyington Oak
Location in Alabama
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| Species | Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) |
| Coordinates | 30°41′10″N 88°03′06″W / 30.68608°N 88.05153°W |
The Boyington Oak is a very old and special Southern live oak tree in Mobile, Alabama. Mobile has many famous old oak trees, but the Boyington Oak is unique because of a mysterious story about how it grew. This tree is known for the interesting folklore that surrounds its beginnings.
Contents
The Story of the Boyington Oak
The legend of the Boyington Oak starts with a young man named Charles R.S. Boyington. He was a printer who moved to Mobile from Connecticut in 1833. Back then, Mobile was growing very fast.
A Mysterious Event
In 1834, something puzzling happened. Charles Boyington was seen walking with his friend, Nathaniel Frost, near the Church Street Graveyard. Later, Frost was found to have passed away near the cemetery.
The Legend Begins
Charles Boyington was thought to be involved in Frost's death. Even though he said he was innocent, he was found responsible for the event. Before he passed away in 1835, Boyington reportedly made a powerful statement. He said that a strong oak tree would grow from his heart as proof that he was innocent.
The Tree Appears
And guess what? An oak tree really did start to grow from the spot where he was laid to rest! This made the story even more mysterious and famous.
Where the Tree Stands Today
The tree and the grave were originally inside the brick wall of the Church Street Graveyard. However, the wall was later moved. Today, the Boyington Oak stands just outside the cemetery wall, right on the edge of Bayou Street. It's a living reminder of a fascinating old legend in Mobile.
