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Fayetteville
The Fayette
County Town Square Oak
and Its Guardian
by John Troesser
Cleve's
concern for the tree is reminiscent of Comanche County's Fleming Oak.
Who knows? Perhaps in time there will be a historical marker in Fayetteville
as there is in Comanche, honoring someone who took the time to call
much-needed attention to a town's oldest resident.
"There isn't anything that you can't do something
about."
Coleman County Sheriff H. F. Fenton |
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The
Oak that witnessed Fayetteville's fires, feuds and festivals
TE photo April 2003
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Cleve
Friddell and friend
TE photo April 2003
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Cleve
Cleve Friddell is a former Houstonian (Milby High Class of '40, Bachelor
of Applied Sciences from University of Houston) who recently settled
in the bucolic wilderness of Fayette County. To the village of Fayetteville
to be exact. A town where lawn ornaments outnumber citizens and nothing's
wild but the flowers.
The Oak
During his twice-daily constitutional walk through town, Cleve couldn't
help but notice the declining condition of the huge Live Oak tree
that grows near the precinct courthouse on the town square - a tree
surrounded by an ocean of asphalt.
The tree, of course, predates the courthouse and come to think of
it - it even predates asphalt - at least the type that's put down
as pavement. The tree was probably substantial enough to take into
consideration when the town was platted back in the 1840s.
The Tree-in-the-Street Sorority and "Old Ironsides"
Fayetteville is a member in good standing of the Tree-in-the-Street
Sorority - a group of small towns that spreads from Columbus south
to Goliad and west to Bigfoot and Uvalde. As a matter of fact, this
lone tree is Fayetteville's membership card. Without it, membership
would be withdrawn.
In the aforementioned towns and others, settlers recognized the majesty
of the Live Oak. They also noticed its stubborn resistance to ax blades
and wedges and moved on to cut trees that weren't so tough. The dense
fiber and springy heartwood of the species made history when Florida
Live Oak timber was used in the construction of the U.S.S. Constitution.
British cannonballs in the War of 1812 literally bounced off the sides
of the ship - earning it the name of "Old Ironsides." |
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Cleve
provides scale
TE photo April 2003
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Back
to our story
The Official Word - It's OLD
Cleve contacted a professional arborist from Austin who came and gave
his professional opinion of the tree and its condition. It was officially
declared old. Make that old with a capital O. A tree's age can only
be accurately determined by taking a core sample of the growth rings
- but the estimate of this specimen one runs right through decades
and into centuries.
Care
The appraisal calls for deadwood removal, feeding, increased soil
activation and monitoring. It is entirely possible that with this
care, the life of the tree can be prolonged for many more years. Texas
may have another arboreal success story - like Austin's
Treaty Oak or La
Grange's Muster Oak.
Cost
The estimate for treatment and maintainence is $3,000 for the initial
phase of work and $1,500 each for the following two years.
History in the Making
Cleve's concern for the tree is reminiscent of Comanche
County's Fleming Oak. Who knows? Perhaps in time there will be
a historical marker in Fayetteville as there is in Comanche, honoring
someone who took the time to call much-needed attention to a town's
oldest resident.
Local papers took up the story and Cleve's cause was supported en
mass by Girl Scout Troop 1327 who set out jars in local stores for
contributions.
You don't have to drive to Fayetteville to put a donation in the jars
- a fund has been set up at the Fayetteville Bank.
Fayetteville Oak Tree Fund
Fayetteville Bank
PO Box 9
Fayetteville, Texas 78940.
© John Troesser
More
Texas Historic
Trees
April
2003 |
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