Herbie (tree) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Herbie |
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Photograph of Herbie taken prior to its spread being reduced in 2008. The tree was cut down in 2010
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 Herbie
Location in Maine
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| Species | American elm (Ulmus americana) |
| Coordinates | 43°48′02″N 70°10′35″W / 43.800573°N 70.176283°W |
| Date seeded | 1793 |
| Date felled | 2010 |
Herbie was a famous American elm tree that grew in Yarmouth, Maine. It stood tall for 217 years, from 1793 until January 19, 2010. Herbie was an amazing 110 feet high! From 1997 until it was cut down, it was the oldest and largest American elm in all of New England. The tree had a huge trunk, about 20 feet around. Its branches spread out 93 feet wide until 2008. People called it "Herbie" because children cried out "Don't cut Herbie!" when some of its sick branches were being removed.
A special sign on Herbie's trunk said:
Historic Elm This tree is hereby designated
a historic landmark to be
honored and preserved for
future generations.Elm Research Institute
Harrisville, N.H. 03450
Herbie's Early Life
On May 1, 1834, the town of Yarmouth planted many more elm trees. They lined East Elm Street, giving Herbie some company. Sadly, starting in 1957, most of these trees got sick. They caught a disease called Dutch elm disease. By 2003, only twenty of Yarmouth's original 739 elm trees were still alive. Herbie was one of the few survivors.
Battling Dutch Elm Disease
Herbie fought Dutch elm disease fifteen times! This disease is caused by a fungus that clogs the tree's water system. In 2007, stripes appeared under Herbie's bark. This was a sign that the disease was getting worse.
In August 2009, it was announced that Herbie would need to be cut down. The removal was planned for January 18 and 19, 2010. It was going to cost $20,000. In October 2009, the special plaque was taken off Herbie's trunk. A new, laminated version was put in its place.
Before the end of 2009, a special fundraising effort began. It was called "The Herbie Project." This project raised money to care for and plant other trees in Yarmouth. After Herbie was cut down, local woodworkers used its wood. They made products that were sold to raise more money for the tree fund.
Herbie's Final Days
A snowstorm on January 17–18, 2010, delayed Herbie's removal. The tree was finally cut down on January 19. Workers counted the rings inside Herbie's trunk. At first, they thought it was at least 212 years old. But on February 4, the official count showed Herbie was 217 years old! The tree's stump was removed later, during the weekend of May 29 and 30.
Herbie's Legacy
A large piece of Herbie's trunk base was shown at the 2010 Yarmouth Clam Festival. Now, it is on permanent display outside Yarmouth town hall. You can find it on Cleaves Street. This display was a project by local Eagle Scouts.
Frank Knight was the town's "tree warden" for many years. He was like a tree doctor for Yarmouth. He took care of Herbie for half of his life, starting in 1956. Frank Knight passed away in 2012 at 103 years old. His casket was secretly made from Herbie's wood. Frank Knight's hard work was honored by the town in many ways. Athletic fields and a forest are named after him. A tree was also planted in his honor in front of Yarmouth's town hall.
In 2017, a company in Portland called Liquid Riot Bottling Company made a special beer. They named it after Herbie to remember the famous tree.
Gallery
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Yarmouth was once flush with American elms. These, on Main Street, were some of the original 739 that existed
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A section of Herbie's stump, pictured in May 2010, is prepared for removal. A stump grinder removed the remainder at the end of the month
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The above section on display at the 2010 Yarmouth Clam Festival. It is now on permanent display on Cleaves Street, on the property of Yarmouth's town hall
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The front and back of a "The Herbie Project" T-shirt
