Mercer Oak facts for kids
The Mercer Oak was a very old and famous white oak tree. It grew in Princeton Battlefield State Park in Princeton, New Jersey. This amazing tree was around 300 years old when a big wind storm knocked it down in March 2000. The Mercer Oak was a special symbol for Princeton Township and even appeared on its official seal. It was also a key part of the seal for Mercer County, New Jersey.
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The Story of the Mercer Oak
The Mercer Oak got its name from Hugh Mercer. He was a brave general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This was a war where the American colonies fought for their freedom from Great Britain.
General Mercer's Courage
During a big fight called the Battle of Princeton, General Mercer was badly hurt by a British soldier's bayonet (a knife attached to a rifle). A legend says that he didn't want to leave his soldiers. Instead, he rested against the trunk of this very oak tree while his troops kept fighting. After the battle, General Mercer was taken to a nearby house. Sadly, he died from his injuries nine days later.
Preserving a Piece of History
In 1973, a lightning storm hit the Mercer Oak. A huge branch broke off. A local craftsman named Ned Brown had a great idea. He decided to save some of the wood from this fallen branch. Later, pieces of this special wood were used in a local restaurant. You can see parts of the oak wood in the bar area. There's even a design showing the silhouette (outline) of the oak tree made from the wood. The rest of the fallen branches were given to Princeton's Historical Society to keep safe.
The Tree's Final Days and Legacy
On March 3, 2000, a strong wind storm finally knocked down the last four branches of the Mercer Oak. For safety reasons, tree experts had to cut down the rest of the trunk the very next day.
Even though the original tree was gone, its legacy continued. Several young plants, called scions, were grown from the original tree. These were planted around the battlefield. In May 2000, a new 8-foot tall sapling (a young tree) was planted right inside the stump of the old Mercer Oak. This new tree had grown from an acorn of the original Mercer Oak, ensuring its spirit lives on.
