Historical Accounts   edniz   Jul 26, 2003 05:18 PDT  Hello,         I wanted to pass on two more historical accounts that I came upon basically by accident. I would think that the reliability of these two warrants more credibility because the measurements were taken after the trees were down. A "Tall" Stick of Timber      The Rochester Democrat says, "a twenty horse team, drawing an immense stick of timber, surmounted by the "Stars and Stripes," attracted general attention in our streets on Thursday. It was owned by Wm. Howell, and is to be sawed into boat timber. It measured 41/2 feet at the butt, and 2 1/2 at the top. It was 63 feet in length, and contained 630 cubic feet. Total weight was no less than 19 1/2 tons -- the heaviest stick of timber probably ever drawn to the city. It was drawn 10 miles by Pike & Ellis, and is chiefly designed for the yard of the Messrs. H. at Buffalo. New York Farmer and Mechanic April, 1846 The Largest Tree in New England      A giant of the forest, for many years the frequent subject of admiration to the curious visitor, has at length fallen, and we are enabled to give a more definite and certain description of it, than has been given of any of the large standing trees in our country.      The Tree to which we refer is an interval Red or Sugar Maple, which has been standing on the farm and near the residence of Joseph Hobbs, Esq., of Ossipee, in this State. The circumference of the tree at the ground was 28 feet, and continued of about the same size 17 feet, perfectly straight and smooth as common blistered bar steel. At this height it parted into two branches.             The first grand branch extended 34 feet, measuring at 51 feet from the ground 4 feet in diameter, or rather more than 12 feet in circumference: this branch then divided into 5 branches, which after running 15 feet were on an average 3 1/2 feet in circumference.      The second grand branch, after extending 39 feet from the main trunk measured 11 feet six inches in circumference; it then divided into two branches, each of which at 19 feet (or 73 feet from the ground) measured 3 ft. 9 in. in circumference.      The length to the top was 96 feet.      Mr. Hobbs informs us, that he has made forty pounds of sugar in a year from this tree. It was injured by tapping, had partially decayed near the roots, but was sound after a few feet above the ground. In a severe gale of wind it was prostrated to the ground, and although much difficulty attended its preparation for the saw-mill, it is now mastered, and its product has just been ascertained to be 3300 feet of inch boards, and nine cords of wood for fuel.      The tree was perfect in its symmetry, larger in circumference than any tree in New England, and probably as great in bulk as any tree in the United States. The Farmer's Monthly Visitor May, 1842 A few questions: The stick of timber in Rochester: what species would this have been? What might have been the original height? New England tree: What species was this? I guess this was written before they discovered the redwoods and sequoias. I'm assuming this was in Ossipee, NH. Could someone check with their local historians on this? The year 1842 wasn't all that long ago. Ed Nizalowski Newark Valley, NY   Home