kids encyclopedia robot

Pow-Wow Oak Tree facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Pow-Wow Oak was a very old and special tree in the Belvidere neighborhood of Lowell, Massachusetts. ("Belvidere" means "beautiful to behold" in Italian.) This amazing tree was about 300 years old. People believe it was a meeting place for pow wows held by the Native American Wamesit tribe. ("Wamesit" is an old word meaning "a place with plenty for everyone."') The Wamesit people gathered in this area for thousands of years. The land where the tree grew was high ground with a spring nearby. Both the land and the tree were very sacred to them.

It is also said that soldiers from the American Revolutionary War passed by the Pow-Wow Oak. People like Deacon Thomas Clark and Captain John Trull traveled this way. They were going to defend Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. This day marked the very start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts.

Saving the Historic Tree

In 1909, Middlesex County decided to pave Clark Road. This road was once a dirt path called "The Old Bridal Path." The Pow-Wow Oak stood right in the middle of the road. Albert E. O'Heir, who lived nearby, did not want the tree to be cut down. To save the tree, Mr. O'Heir gave a piece of his land to the City of Lowell for just one cent. This generous act allowed the Pow-Wow Oak to stay standing.

Remembering the Pow-Wow Oak

In May 1931, a group called the Molly Varnum Chapter of the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) put up a sign next to the tree. This sign honored the ancient oak, the Wamesit Indians, and the local soldiers. It remembered their journey through that Lowell neighborhood during the Revolutionary War.

In September 2009, a local group called the Pow-Wow Oak Protectors was formed. This group worked to keep the tree safe and healthy. They were worried because the tree had been damaged over many years. In May 2011, the Pow-Wow Oak Protectors and other local groups raised money. They used the funds to fix up the tree's special sign. The Pow-Wow Oak was also recognized by the American Forests Historic Trees Program. The City of Lowell also helped protect it with an official agreement in 2012.

The Tree's Story in Film and Book

In May 2011, a documentary movie was made about the Pow-Wow Oak. It was called "The Last Pow-Wow Oak." The movie showed the efforts of the Pow-Wow Oak Protectors and other groups to save the tree. A local artist named Andrew Szava-Kovats produced this film. In March 2014, Andrew Szava-Kovats also wrote a book with the same title. The book shared more details and history about the Pow-Wow Oak.

The Tree's Final Days

On May 21, 2013, a very strong wind storm hit. A large upper branch of the Pow-Wow Oak broke off and fell onto Clark Road. The next day, the City of Lowell decided to cut down the entire tree. This was because the tree had a lot of decay inside. This decay made the tree unsafe for people walking or driving nearby.

On November 12, 2015, a special ceremony was held. It took place at the Peter W. Reilly Elementary School in Lowell, MA. A large round piece of the Pow-Wow Oak's trunk was put on permanent display there. This display helps people remember the historic tree.

Images for kids

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis7

    The Mighty Pow-Wow Oak on Clark Road in Belvidere, January 1974 (Photo by George Koumantzelis)

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis9

    Pow-Wow Oak Commemorative Sign, January 1974 (Photo by George Koumantzelis)

  • Pow-Wow Oak Unique Limb - Lowell, MA - September 2012

    Unique limb, September 2012

  • PowWowOakSignMonumentStump

    After the Pow-Wow Oak was taken down - sign, monument and stump

  • PowWowOakBehindRodIronFence

    Pow-Wow Oak

  • PowWowOakStoneBoundCap

    Pow-Wow Oak stone marker

  • PowWowOakClarkRoadSummer2015

    After tree was removed, Summer 2015

  • PowWowOakDARsign2015

    Pow-Wow Oak DAR sign

  • PowWowOakFallenTrunk

    After tree was removed - fallen trunk

  • PowWowOakFallenTrunk2

    After tree was removed - fallen trunk

  • PowWowOakLandMonument

    Monument

  • PowWowOakMonumentStandingStoneStump

    After tree was removed - Pow-Wow Oak stump

  • PowWowOakNewGrowth2015Sprout

    After tree was removed - New growth sprout, 2015

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis1

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis2

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis3

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis4

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis5

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis8

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis10

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis11

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis12

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • The MightyPowWowOakOnClarkRoadInBelvidereJanuary1974PhotoByGeorgeKoumantzelis14

    Pow-Wow Oak, January 1974

  • Pow-Wow Oak - Lowell, MA - September 2012

    Pow-Wow Oak in Lowell, MA, September 2012

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Pow-Wow Oak Tree Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.