Historic Carolina Trees
There are quite a iiiiinher with which are
associated important historical events dur¬
ing the early history of the state, and they
are to be found in all sections of North
Carolina.
Bi
/
MARY VANSTOKY ELZEMKYVR
WITHIN (bo boundaries of
North Carolina arn a number
of old (roes of historical and
legendary interest.
Outstanding among (hem are
three which are located at (he Gnil-
fair degree of authority that General
Greene was stationed near lliis tree
during (lie battle, and bin horse was
tied to it. The twisted ton of the
The third tree of interest is a
noted poplar. It is very large and
marks the spot where the first line
of battle began and where Colonel
Arthur Forbis, of Greensboro, was
killed.
Friends burying ground. At the
fool of this giant oak is the grave of
26 Revolutionary soldiers, 13 from
cither side; and a tablet is inscribed
tree stli lids between the old George
Mendenhall house and the western
end of •lamest own. This tree is of
especial interest as it is alleged that
as a small branch it was used by
Cornwallis as a riding whip, which
lie tossed away at this spot. It was
picked up and stnek in the ground,
and took root.
Thr Burnt Poplar— estimated to
Is- between 600 and 700 years old -
is the only marker of the old Danville-
Salisbury Rond, the oldest known
thoroughfare through that vicinity.
It lies about 50 yards south on a dirt
road near the present Grocnsboro-
Winston highway. Historian* say
this is the only known living tree
that had its top shot out by a cannon
ball from the battle of Guilford Court
House.
The Bnnrnstown “Election Tree"
on the outskirts of Winston stands
at the very center of the little vil¬
lage whore the roads crossed. It is
a huge oak tree; “a green robed sen¬
ator of the mighty woods.” Under the
spreading branches were held town
meetings, elections, political speak¬
ings. debates, entertainments, vocal
and instrumental musicals. In
short, this was the town hall, the
auditorium, the opera house and the
open forum. Under the shade of the
tree the hoys played marbles, the
men pitched horseshoes and the girls
played with their dolls.
On all occasions of any importance,
Joseph Brown and family furnished
the music. All civic matters were
disposed of here in the manner of
the New England town meeting*.
Under the tree it was said that Wash¬
ington. General Greene and other
worthies have rested.
The Davie Poplar at Chapel Hill,
is a leaning yellow poplar (Tulip)
tree growing on the campus of the
University of North Carolina. Un¬
der this tree the commissioners un¬
der General Wm. Richardson Davie
tied their horses when they rode out
from Raleigh in 1793. The tree is
‘till in fairly good condition; a tab-
tree even now bears testimony to the
••fleet that the General's horse did thereon,
eat the top out of it. The second tr*-** is in Mrs. Roxie
The Persimmon Tree, also at Guil- L>. White’s yard, and is the tradi-
ford Battleground, marks the spot tional Dolly Madison Oak. It was
where General Cornwallis’ horse was quite u small tree when Dolly Madi-
shot from under him. The Battle- son played under it. We also know
ground owns ten f. et all around this the Revolutionary soldiers passed
treo, so it is regarded ns an authori- along this way and some wounded
tn live historical spot. The oak, men- ones were canal for at the New Gar-
tioned above, is now owned by the den Meeting
Ноше.
Battleground Association hut belongs The Cornwallis Sycamore at old
In members of the Oslmrm- family. Jamestown, a large and beautiful
The “Washington Oak" in Pender County, under which George
Washington rested.
ford Battleground, formerly known as
Guilford Court House, near Greens¬
boro.
The date of the battle was March
15, 17S1. The Battleground Oak
measures approximately 20 feet in
circumference. We can state with a
The next link in interest and asso¬
ciation are two trees at Guilford Col¬
lege. They certainly add substan¬
tiating history to our “hall of fame."
First the Liberty or Revolutionary
Oak which stands in the graveyard
of the Old Quaker Meeting House,
known then as tile New Garden or
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