Another witness to war gone

[Emmanuel Dabney]

'Witness tree' falls at Ellwood
September 18, 2006 12:50 am

By JENN ROWELL

At different times, Stonewall Jackson and Ulysses Grant may have sought its shade. Blue- and gray-clad soldiers may have taken cover behind its trunk as the Civil War battles raged at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness.

But the gnarly catalpa tree that stood in the yard at Ellwood in eastern Orange County for upwards of 170 years is no more. It crashed to the ground Thursday night.

The tree "certainly deserves a eulogy," said John Hennessy, chief historian for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. He calls it a "witness tree" because of all the history that occurred around it.

"It just wore out and fell over," Hennessy said. "It was probably one of the most beloved trees in the park and probably the whole area for those that know about it."

A short walk from the tree is the place where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried after it was amputated during the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Hennessy said park historians aren't exactly sure how old the tree is, but it's thought to be the work of one of Ellwood's owners.

William Jones also owned Chatham Manor in Falmouth, where he also planted the exotic catalpa trees on the property.

"It's one of those deals if bark could talk, or if tree limbs could talk, what amazing stories it could tell of all it's seen," Hennessy said.

No plans have been made for what to do with the tree. Hennessy said the park is seeking a suitable solution. "But one thing is for sure, it won't be discarded."


To reach JENN ROWELL: 540/374-5000, ext. 5617
Email: jrowell@freelancestar.com

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Copyright 2006 The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company.

Found online: http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/F...9182006/222337

[csa blacksmith]

Re: Another witness to war gone

Very good story, glad it's not going to be discarded. We had a historic tree fall and a guy salvaged what he could and the rest went to the dump. This tree was pre 1800

heres the site http://www.over-land.com/st_loganelm.html

[NC5thCav]

Re: Another witness to war gone

An oak that was a good bit older than the CW fell at a living history area here. The wood from the tree is being used to rebuild and repair some of the 150+ year old buildings.

[Miss L]

Re: Another witness to war gone

I was there on Sunday. There was a sign at the base (which may have been there previously) stating "Please Keep Off Historic Catalpa Tree", and where the tree had broken at the base there were three pots of red mums arranged. (I'd post a photo, but I haven't the foggiest idea how to do it. Sorry.)

[Dignann]

Re: Another witness to war gone

I swear, I've never seen a tree get so much media coverage.


A Tree grows in Ellwood

New catalpa replaces 'witness tree' at Ellwood

By JENN ROWELL

Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
October 24, 2006

The empty space left by the gnarly catalpa tree that fell at Ellwood was filled yesterday.

A tree grown from a seed of the original tree that stood behind Ellwood for upwards of 170 years was planted in the same spot.

The original tree fell last month.

Caring for the new catalpa is no different than any other tree, maintenance work leader John Reitenberg said.

"But the level of anxiety will be higher just because it's such a special tree," he said.

The original tree was known by the National Park Service as a "witness tree" because it stood throughout the Civil War and other major historical events.

A short walk from the tree is the place where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried after it was amputated during the Battle of Chancellorsville.

The original tree is thought to be the work of one of Ellwood's owners.

William Jones also owned Chatham Manor in Falmouth, where he also planted the exotic catalpa trees on the property.

Ellwood was owned by only two families before being turned over to the Park Service.

Carolyn Elstner's grandparents and great-grandparents lived at Ellwood.

Elstner climbed in the original tree as a child and had a cat that lived in the tree because it was so skittish, she said.

Now she's the chairman of the Ellwood Restoration Project for the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield.

She was shocked when the tree fell, but she's glad to see the new tree in the ground, she said.

"I'm still grieving a little bit over the old one," she said. "But this gives us a forward outlook."

Wood salvaged from the original tree will be used to make plaques, Brian Dendis of the Park Service said. Much of the wood will have to be burned because of rot, he said.

Three rooms on the first floor of Ellwood are scheduled to be restored in the spring, Elstner said. Those are the most historic rooms so the new tree can have some history of its own, she said.

"It's neat that this tree will witness the bringing of Ellwood back to life," she said.

The new tree will be incorporated into the tours of Ellwood and a piece of the original tree will be displayed in the house.

"It's right where the old tree was," Elstner said. "I hope that's the best place for it."

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/102006/10242006/231570

Eric