THE WASHINGTON ELM 



of pruning during the last few years. "In 

 August, 1872, a branch 17 inches in diameter 

 fell from the tree. A part of the wood 

 was used in making a pulpit for the chapel 

 of the neighboring church." Previous to 

 this first indication of old age, on Nov. 30, 

 1864, the City Council ordered "that the 

 committee on Public Property cause a suit- 

 able tablet of some durable material, either 

 granite, marble or iron to be placed on the 

 'Washington Elm' in Ward i, said tablet 

 to commemorate in conspicuous letters the 

 Revolutionary event which rendered said 

 tree historical." 



And so we might go on, and recall from 

 abundant sources the history of one of the 

 oldest landmarks of Massachusetts. A great 

 number of our representative men have men- 

 tioned it in public utterance or written word 

 at some time in their careers, and in the heart 

 of every American who loves the history of 

 his country, there dwells a degree of respect 

 and gratitude for this living representative 

 of olden time. Lowell's was a fitting tribute 

 when he wrote, 



