Old Oak Tree facts for kids
The Old Oak Tree was a huge white oak tree that stood for hundreds of years in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States. It grew in the churchyard of the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge. This amazing tree was over 600 years old when it sadly died in 2016. It was cut down in 2017. The Old Oak Tree was about 97 feet tall, which is like a 9-story building! Many people thought it might have been the oldest white oak tree in the entire world.
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A Tree's Long History
The Old Oak Tree stood in the old graveyard of the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge. During its very long life, it saw many important moments in American history.
Famous Visitors and Events
- In 1740, a famous English speaker named George Whitfield and an American preacher named James Davenport spoke under the tree. About 3,000 people gathered to listen during a time called the First Great Awakening. This was a period when many people became very interested in religion.
- Later, during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington's soldiers practiced their drills nearby. Washington himself even had a picnic under the tree with his friend, Marquis de Lafayette.
- In 1781, about 5,500 French soldiers, led by Comte de Rochambeau, marched past the tree. They were on their way to Yorktown, Virginia, for a very important battle that helped America win its independence.
What the Tree Looked Like
People often called the Old Oak Tree the "Holy Oak." It was 619 years old when it died in 2016.
- It stood about 97 feet (30 meters) tall.
- The trunk of the tree was about 20 feet (6 meters) around. That's like wrapping a measuring tape around five tall adults!
- Its branches spread out over 130 feet (40 meters) wide.
- In its last few years, some of its lower branches needed metal bars to help hold them up.
The End of a Long Life
In June 2016, the Old Oak Tree started to look sick. Its top branches did not grow leaves, which was a sign it was "failing to thrive." By September 2016, the tree had completely died.
The "Holy Oak" was carefully taken down over three days. The work finished on April 26, 2017. But the story doesn't end there! A new, young white oak tree, grown from an acorn of the old tree, has been planted in the churchyard. It will carry on the legacy of the amazing Old Oak Tree.
