Tree Was More than 280 Years Old
By Miles Shuper
Visalia
- The huge oak tree on the 18th tee at the Visalia Country Club,
which was considered Visalia's largest and likely oldest oak tree, is
gone.
There had been concern for some time
that the diseased and rotted tree, estimated to be more than 280 years
old, was rotten from the inside and in danger of falling
City ordinance prevents oak tree removal without a permit, a process which
has been enforced for a number of years.
Although an Emergency Oak Tree Removal Permit was granted on July 7, and the tree cut down about three weeks later, the lack of public notice of the removal isn't setting well with local oak tree preservationists.
Although they agree that the removal permit process was followed, the preservationists are miffed that they weren't notified.
Allen George, considered “Mr. Oak Tree” for his long-time oak tree preservation efforts as well as historic research, said, “I was shocked when I found out” the tree had been removed.
George said he learned of the removal from Sandy Newman, also a long-time oak tree and history advocate, who noticed the tree was gone as she drove on Goshen Avenue near the County Club.
Newman, George and historian Terry Ommen were among those who put the huge tree on the list of stops for a couple of oak tree tours. George called the Visalia County Club oak “our pride and joy,” adding that it likely was alive when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
The County Club oak was the largest found during an extensive survey of city oaks, Ommen said, adding that oak tree size generally is considered an indication of a tree's age.
A printed program for an oak tree tour in September, 2005 puts the golf course oak at 55 feet tall, 23 feet in circumference and 276 years old. The circumference is measured from breast height, according to David Pendergraft, the city's urban forestry supervisor.
Pendergraft, a certified arborist, issued the permit which states “the base and trunk of tree is decayed and hollow with the tree's outer ring supporting the tree. In addition, the tree has a severe lean and serves as a safety hazard in its current condition. The tree should be removed as soon as possible.”
The removal was done by Halsey's Tree Service which had inspected the tree several times and used it during a demonstration during another oak tree tour. Steve Halsey, also a certified arborist, concurred with Pendergraft the tree was a hazard and needed to come down.
Connie Fields, Halsey's sister, said her brother and his crew expected a group to gather to witness the downing of the golf course oak. “He told me he was shocked that there was not a group of people there to watch the operation,” she said.
George said he and others are considering formation of a committee which would review and serve in an advisory capacity as part of the city's oak tree removal permit process. Such as group, he says, would add transparency to the actions taken under provisions of the city oak tree ordinance.
Ommen said, “I'm disappointed the community was not made aware of the pending removal,” He added that since oak trees and the Fox Theater are Visalia icons and part of the City Of Visalia logo, the removal of the biggest and oldest should have been publicly noted.
Although provisions of the ordinance allow for appeal of a tree removal permit decision within seven days, Ommen and George said they basically had no way of knowing about it unless they specifically inquired with city officials.
Ommen said the Visalia County Club obviously followed the required procedures and acted out of concern for safety.
Pendergraft, who said he granted the emergency removal permit requests based on safety, said suggestions that a committee be formed to review potential removal of oaks with significant historical value might have some merit. He said he has worked with Ommen, Newman, George and others and was among the speakers during the oak tree tours.
“I stood under that tree at the County Club and mentioned that the tree would have to come down sometime in the future.”
The No. 2 tree at 1406 Beverly Drive, is 115 feet tall, 17. 5 feet in circumference and estimated at 210 years of age.
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