Massachusetts Gallery - Steve Hewlett, Page 2

December 02, 2006:  We had another successful field trip today. First, we drove up to the Haverhill, MA to see the "Worshipping Oak". This is a very old tree. On the way home we stopped in Harvard, MA to see the "Whipping Tree" which is a very large sycamore. While the "Whipping Tree" is a very fine specimen, the "Worshipping Oak" is rather awe-inspiring. My photos don't capture this aspect of the tree and it is hard to put into words - the "Worshipping Oak" has a presence.

Photo to the left:  and above Sycamore - Harvard, MA - Dec. 2006 Known as the "Whipping Tree" Ht. w/ clinometer = 109 feet, cbh = 20 ft. 5 in. In the 1800's a Shaker farmer was tied to this tree and whipped as punishment for a  purported crime. [Bob Leverett writes Dec 5, 2006:  I measured that tree a number of years ago and got just over 90 feet. I might not have found the highest sprig, but would be surprised to have been more than 3 or 4 feet under the highest spot. I am unsure of what rate of growth to expect from that particular tree, given its significant age and its less than ideal growing location. It would be exciting to find that it had grown significantly in the 8 or so years since I measured it.]
	Photos above and to the left:  White Oak - Haverhill, MA - Dec. 2006 Known as the "Worshipping Tree" Ht. w/ clinometer = 68 feet cbh = 16 ft. 11 in. This is a tough tree to measure for both  height and circumference. The trunk has  many large burls and the tree is located on  a pronounced slope. Prior to the first  meeting house being built in Haverhill in  1648, the early settlers met under this  tree for church services. The trunk base  is completely hollow inside with a small  3 inch opening just below chest height on  the down slope side. The "Worshipping Oak"  is approaching stag status and no longer bears  acorns. This is without question a very old  tree for the Northeast U.S.

December 03, 2006, Steve Hewlett Writes:  We checked out three more notable trees in the area today. Photos are attached along with a text file with descriptions. We looked for a large black oak in Wellesley and may have found it but I am none too sure of the ID so am not including it for now. It doesn't look like a black oak to me, though I am unsure of what it is. More research is required. I'm hoping the good weather here will continue a while longer. Next weekend I'd like to see what's left of the Carlisle pines.

Sycamore - Sherborn, MA - Dec. 2006 Ht. w/ clinometer = 102 feet cbh = 16 ft. 11 in.	Sycamore - Sherborn, MA - Dec. 2006 Ht. w/ clinometer = 102 feet cbh = 16 ft. 11 in.
White Oak - Wellesley College, MA - Dec.2006 Ht. w/ clinometer = 76 feet cbh = 15 ft. 10 in. Adopted as the class tree by the class of 1920	White Oak - Wellesley College, MA - Dec.2006 Ht. w/ clinometer = 76 feet cbh = 15 ft. 10 in. Adopted as the class tree by the class of 1920
White Oak - Natick, MA - Dec. 2006 Known as the "Station Tree" Ht. w/ clinometer = 82 feet cbh = 14 ft. 9 in.	This tree is known as the "Station Tree"  because it was used as a boundary marker between towns when drawing early maps of the area; it  is prominently featured on a 1750 map based on a 1749 survey.