Autumn in the North Cemetery.

Sixty miles west of Boston, Massachusetts there is the small New England town of Sturbridge. Located at the junction of I-90 (The Mass Pike), and I-84 it has become known as the "Crossroads of New England". The town was first settled over 300 years ago, and like other small New England towns it has grown just enough over the years to be in a difficult place today. How do we embrace the future without forgetting how we got to our present? How do we attract the right kind of growth, and maintain who we are? And, what about our culture out here in Central Massachusetts?



These pages will cause one to think about how to protect what we have, our future direction, and how to move on in the very best way.


Those thoughts, and other ramblings, will hopefully inspire more thought, conversation, action, and occasionally a smile...

...seems to be working so far

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Original Heritage Tree

The photo at the left is of The Sturbridge Maple. It was taken around 1900. The tree was considered special because of its flawless shape. It certainly did stand out and got ones attention, especially in the Fall.

Does anyone know where it was, and what happened to the tree? And, does anyone know what happened five years later that could have been prevented if folks had learned from the fate of the Maple Tree?

Talk amongst yourselves, and email your answer to Thinking Out Loud.

4 comments:

  1. Dear thinking:

    Well you just might have me stumped on this one, But I believe is a view down Rt 131 from what is now the intersection/traffic lights infront of the Town Hall.
    Before Rt 131 was paved and then widened which would have removed the tree. The tree on the left edge of the photo has charicteristics of an Elm tree, similar to the one that is thre today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Given the curve in the road behind the tree, it looks like the common, across from the Publick House.

    Love your blog, especially your clever titles - they make me smile. Beautiful photos, and the kind of writing that keeps me coming back.

    Thanks for your time, effort, positive attitude and for making fun happen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, so far you are both correct as far as it's location goes, but can you answer the rest of the questions? C'mon, Tom, it's a tree question! Now, you have some homework to do.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The tree was struck by lightening around 1900. Five years later, the church that occupied the site where the Federated Church now sits was also struck by lightening. One would have thought that since the tree had been struck and destroyed, the church would have installed a lightening rod. They were only about 300 feet apart.

    ReplyDelete



Anonymous comments not accepted, and will be rejected. Please use your full name. Choose "Name / URL" and enter your name, and your name ONLY. Leave "URL" blank.