FAMOUS TREES 55 



Sassafras at Horsham, in a quaint old graveyard directly opposite 

 the Friends' meeting house. This noble tree is estimated to be much 

 more than 300 years old. It stands as a monument to pioneer set- 

 tlers of Pennsylvania who were buried here as early as 1719 (95). 



RHODE ISLAND 



Catholic Oak, at Lonsdale, near the corner of Broad and Mill 

 Streets. In 1843 James Cook Richmond, a missionary of the Episco- 

 pal Church, on his way to preach at a neighboring town, paused be- 

 neath the branches of this immense oak, exclaiming : "What a beauti- 

 ful tree this is ! I think I will hold services here next Sunday." He 

 did, and the services soon became popular. The first was held on 

 Whitsunday, June 4, 1843, when Mr. Richmond christened the tree 

 "The Catholic Oak", referring to its universal invitation to worship. 

 After preaching beneath the oak for several months, Mr. Richmond 

 was sent to another field, but he returned every year to hold service 

 under the tree on Whitsunday. An iron railing has been placed 

 around this oak, with a tablet commemorating its history. 



VIRGINIA 



Washington Tuliptree, at Falls Church, in the churchyard of the 

 church erected in 1734. This is the tree to which Washington tied 

 his horse when he attended a meeting of the vestrymen. The church 

 was used as a stable for the horses of Union soldiers during the Civil 

 War. 



TREES THAT HAVE HAD SPECIAL PROTECTION 



CONNECTICUT 



Johnson Oak, halfway between Stratford and Bridgeport, said to 

 be 500 years old. The property on which it stands has changed hands 

 many times, and when the city of Bridgeport opened up the land, a 

 citizen bought the lot on which the tree stands and built a retaining 

 wall about the tree to help save it (11, v. 27). 



Johnson Oak, Northford. The property on which this oak stands 

 was purchased by Nathaniel Johnson in 1714. It remained in the 

 Johnson family until 1916. This tree was saved from destruction in 

 1931 when the course of the State road was changed at the request of 

 the town (66, p. 21). (Compare both Johnson Oaks mentioned. The 

 stories are similar but from different sources, and distinctions may be 

 noted which make it appear that they are different trees.) 



Nichols' Spruces, Lyons Plains, Redding. These six trees can never 

 legally be destroyed by men, according to the provisions of the deeds 

 which have been given to each owner of the property since the first 

 owner, Ebenezer Nichols, planted the trees in 1844. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 



Cameron Elm, near the House wing of the United States Capitol. 

 (See Trees associated with notable people, p. 11.) 



Three oak trees of Civil War fame stand near Thirtieth Street and 

 Grant Road, Washington, D. C. Civil War generals held conference 

 under these trees. 



