THE HISTORIC TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS 



The historic traditions are even more in- 

 teresting than the measurements. "The old 

 elm" was standing when the town was 

 settled (1725-6) and an Indian trail leading 

 into Connecticut passed near its trunk. 

 There is a story to the effect that this trail 

 was marked on either side by numerous 

 apple trees which sprang from seeds dropped 

 by the Indians in their wanderings. 



A little to the southeast of the tree the 

 first settler of Sheffield, Mathew Noble, 

 camped for a time with his daughter. They 

 came on horseback from Westfield, and the 

 young lady, anticipating great cold, brought 

 with her a feather-bed. At one time town 

 meetings were held under the tree, and at 

 another yearly town picnics were in vogue. 

 The maple trees planted in the near vicinity 

 of the elm were for the purpose of producing 

 more shade for the picnickers. A local poet 

 has written of the tree, setting forth some 

 of its early Indian traditions. 



Unfortunately, Washington, who brought 

 into prominence, so many of the trees of New 

 England, passed this one by. But in this 



