THE HOLLISTON ELMS 



not spreading outward, or overhanging, but towering to a height 

 of one hundred feet. 



I know of no trees in this section that will compare with them. 



These magnificent elms were planted by Aaron Phipps during 

 his apprenticeship to Dea. James Russell (blacksmith) between 

 1747 and 1 75 1 (see Morse's history of Sherborn and Holliston). 



It is said Washington rested under these trees on his return 

 from Boston in 1789. He spent the night in Uxbridge, and, 

 Holliston being halfway between Boston and Uxbridge, he very 

 likely stopped here to dinner. 



Yours truly, 



Thomas A. Dickinson 



The larger of the two trees is quite as 

 "remarkable" in its way as the smaller, 

 and is certainly more "magnificent." It 

 is one of those elms whose habit it is to cover 

 its trunk with small twigs, and appears, 

 in summer, like a fountain of leaves rising 

 out of the earth. Unquestionably no pair 

 of elms in Massachusetts can surpass these 

 in size and grandeur; none give greater hope 

 of preserving their beauty far into the future. 



The author's measurements are the follow- 

 ing: for the larger tree the circumference 

 at breast height is i8J feet, the height is 

 92 feet, and the spread 80 feet. For the 

 smaller the circumference is i6| feet, the 

 height 85 feet, and the spread 85 feet. 



By way of comparison, a pair of elms in 



1551 



