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After more than 200 years, a majestic tree falls

Photo at left: Joe Schafer stands near his bicentennial tree that fell in a recent storm. He’s holding a certificate that he received in 1976 verifying that the tree likely was 200 or more years old. More Mystery Place photos in the GALLERY

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The proud bicentennial tree, which stood on front of Ye Old Hotel in Lyons for more than 200 years, was toppled May 22, 2011. The storm that blew through Walworth County that day was the outer edge of the same storm the spawned the devastating tornado the ripped through Joplin, Mo. The tree had been ailing for some time, owner Joe Schafer told me.

[If you have a certificate, or know of a standing bicentennial tree, let us know on our Facebook page HERE, or comment below.]

In 1976, Walworth County sponsored a bicentennial project to identify and certify trees that were at least 200 years old. The trees then were noted on a certificate of authenticity. Schafer is holding his certificate in the photo here.

For the project, James Johnson, Walworth County zoning and planning manager, and Stan Ihlenfeldt, county ag agent, calculated the circumference that various species of trees needed to reach to likely be 200 years old. At the time, I was in charge of the program, and measured many of the tress myself.

We identified a good number of these bicentennial trees and presented the certificates to the owners at the 1976 Walworth County Fair.

I’m wondering how many people still have their certificates and how many bicentennial trees are still standing tall? If you have a certificate, or know of a standing bicentennial tree, let us know on our Facebook page HERE.