Balmville Tree

The Balmville tree ( Balmville Tree ) is a poplar from old forests that grows at the intersection of River Road, Balmville Road and Grand Avenue in Balmville, in upstate New York.

It is the oldest tree of its kind in the countries of the East Coast.

It was initially assumed that this was one of the rare trees of the North American poplar Populus candicans, from whose resin is a healing balm is made. The tree was thus the neighboring community its name Balmville - Balm Balm in English.

History

In traditional local lore states that the tree began to grow as George Washington planted his walking stick in time, as he encamped with the Continental Army during the last years of the American War of Independence near Newburgh. But with the help of drill core samples of the tree 's growth has been dated to the beginning of 1699, ie long before the American Revolutionary War.

In the 20th century, the tree began to suffer from the effects of advanced age and vandalism. Mid-1970s had arborists recommended that the tree should be removed due to possible traffic hazard. However, some people from the community Balmville under the direction of Richard Severo, whose family took care of the tree, it could save by citizens appealed to the historical significance of Balmville tree.

The Balmville tree has then been subject to serious conservation efforts both at the level of the State of New York and at the level of the Federal Government of the United States in the aftermath. A metal pole placed at the root and an effective backstay system provide the necessary stability. Both the tree and the little bit of land on which it grows, are a special protection by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as a declared historical monument, and by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as declared " public historical park " or National Forest, which is the smallest park or forest of New York with a total area of ​​31 m². The tree is listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2000.

The diameter at the bottom is 7.6 meters and height 25 meters. The tree was formerly 33.5 meters high, his crown but had to be cut back after heavy storm damage from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Swell