Black oak and sycamores in Pa   wad-@comcast.net
  Jun 18, 2007 07:31 PDT 

ENTS

This weekend I visited the state champion Black oak. Somehow this tree fell off the list, 
as it was not on the list when I took over the big tree program. Luckily, the tree has a 
sign proclaiming it’s status and a neighbor brought it to my attention. Located in Ridley 
State Park, Delaware County Pa. near the town of Gradyville. It sits on a steep hill along 
an old fence row. This more than likely saved the tree from removal, as the land is not 
farmable. Here is a link to the tree 

ridely_black.jpg (170385 bytes)

  http://www.pabigtrees.com/trees/images/ridley%20black%20oak%20small.jpg  
It’s stats are:

20.6’ cbh 124.8’ tall with a 101’ spread for 397 points (AF) This tree also qualifies for listing 
in the Penn’s Woods book, should it ever be reprinted.

I attended the Millersville University Native Plants in the Landscape Conference a couple 
of weeks ago. I felt I was close enough to a few trees that I had to go measure them. One 
I think I already reported on is the current state champ Sycamore located in Mercersburg. 
http://www.pabigtrees.com/trees/images/risser%20sycamore%20trunk%201.JPG This low 
branched tree has measurements of 31.8 cbh 106.8’ tall and 161’ spread for 529 points.

Another sycamore was listed in 1920 as being Pa’s most massive tree. It is located in 
Lancaster, Pa.   If not for two telephone poles supporting the remaining branches, it would 
surely have fallen apart. This tree has an 8’ skirt of solid root all the way around the tree. 
You literally walk up the tree to get to the trunk. It is now hollow, but has several vigorous 
shoots growing from the hulk. http://www.pabigtrees.com/trees/images/lancaster%20sycamore%20warner.JPG   
http://www.pabigtrees.com/trees/images/lancaster%20sycamore%20hollow%20warner%202.JPG 
Even though there isn’t much left, it is 24.3’ cbh 67.3’ tall with a 117’ spread for 388 points.

I also tracked down the location of a Penn Tree. A Black Cherry that was 14’4” cbh in 
1982. The tree was removed as a hazard in 2003. No final ring counts or measurements 
were taken.

Scott
RE: Black oak and sycamores in Pa   Matthew Hannum
  Jun 18, 2007 18:21 PDT 

That giant, triple-trunk sycamore reminds me a lot of the Sycamore Trio
of old sycamores that guarded the parking lot in Red Bank Part in
southern New Jersey along the Delaware River. The park is the site of a
Revolutionary War battle, but more importantly to me was that it was the
first place in which I truly stood in the shadow of giants, for those
sycamores were far larger and more stately than any trees I had seen in
suburbia. There were three great sycamores that stood in that parking
lot: one with 2 trunks, one with 4, and the last with 3. Now, these
trees were larger in the eyes of a child than they probably were in
life, though they still seem of decent size in the old photos. The
triple-trunk one in particular was impressive since the 3 trunks - or
perhaps low limbs - fused together at about 6+ feet above the ground,
producing a single, massive trunk.

I haven't visited that park in years since moving to Maryland, and sadly
Google satellite images of the parking lot show 2 empty, earth-colored
areas where 2 of the trees stood. Only the 1 with 4 trunks remains (and
even that one may be gone now depending upon how old the Google images
are.) Such a waste... they did have some fire damage around the base
(which was strange to find in a park), but I can't imagine what led to
their demise.

Anyway, thanks for the photos and the memories of long-lost sycamore
friends.
RE: Black oak and sycamores in Pa   wad-@comcast.net
  Jun 20, 2007 21:44 PDT 
Matt

The sycamore is a 4 stemmed individual, one hiding behind another. Our 
largest single stem sycamore is over 27' in circumference. The true champ in my mind!

Scott