THE HISTORIC TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS 



sixty-eight feet, and the spread of branches, 

 which is ninety-three feet. 



The tree is older than the town, and is 

 claimed on the basis of tradition to mark 

 the site of the first religious meeting ever 

 held in Dedham. Dr. William Avery, for 

 whom the tree was named, caused a chair 

 to be made from some of the branches which 

 blew off, and as an accompanying memento, 

 a table, constructed of timbers from the 

 old Avery house. The chair and table he 

 presented to the Dedham Historical Society. 

 The tree also has the distinction of being 

 adopted as a model for the town seal. In 

 1886 Mr. Joseph H. Clark presented the 

 tree, and the ground on which it stands, 

 to the Historical Society, and it is still owned 

 and cared for by that organization. The 

 location is on East street, a short distance 

 from the point of its intersection with East- 

 ern avenue, and near the Fairbanks house. 



There seems to be no recorded history 

 of the faithful old white oak that stands 

 within the village pound on High street. 

 Surely this oak with its great age could 



