The last living “witness tree” outside Abraham Lincoln’s former home in Springfield, Illinois, an American linden, was destroyed during severe storms Thursday night, according to The New York Times. A park ranger at the home confirmed the damage. The tree had stood beside it since before the Civil War.
A line of thunderstorms swept across central Illinois that night. They included winds gusting up to 70 mph. The system made its way across the area, making a path of destruction in its wake according to NBC Chicago. The linden ended up being brought down by the winds.
NBC Chicago reported that a National Park Service employee at the site told a visitor named Randy Wells that the tree unfortunately couldn’t be saved. Wells stopped by the home on Friday and shared photographs of the damage. This was the most clear-cut assessment of the tree’s fate so far.
The home where the linden once stood proudly sits at the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets. Lincoln and his family lived there from 1844 to 1861, about 17 years, before he left for the White House. The National Park Service keeps the house for preservation and grounds as the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
What Made the Tree a ‘Witness’
A witness tree is old enough that it can be tied to the historic events of a place. This linden qualified as one because it grew beside the home through the years the Lincolns lived there. That meant it was able to be connected to Lincoln’s life.
The tree had stood directly across the street from the house. Witness trees are prized at historic sites because they are originals, not later stand-ins. Once one is gone it cannot be replaced, since no tree planted now could claim the same past.
The Park Service hasn’t announced its plans for the fallen tree. Further, it’s not known whether any of the wood will be preserved or put to another use. There’s also no timeline in mind for cleaning up the remains of the tree.