Wind claims one of UC's largest trees
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| photo/Dottie Stover This scarlet oak, thought to have been one of the oldest remaining trees on campus, was blown down in the storm June 4, 2008. The tree was one of several large specimens near McMicken Circle at the main entrance to campus off Clifton Avenue. Image gallery |
by John Bach
The University of Cincinnati lost one of its oldest and largest trees in the June 4, 2008, thunderstorm.
Strong winds toppled the scarlet oak, one of the anchor landscape elements of UC's front lawn that leads up to McMicken Hall.
University landscape architect Len Thomas estimates the tree dates back roughly 122 years to about 1886.
"It is a real shame," says Thomas. "Trees always stand better as a triumvirate. This was part of a triumvirate of three scarlet oak trees, all of which were, I'm sure, planted simultaneously. Now it is just a pair of oak trees. It certainly does change the composition."
Last year's drought, he says, likely contributed to the tree's weakening.
University employees sawed the tree into logs, which were piled near McMicken Circle as free firewood.
