LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A heritage oak tree on the grounds of the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum was removed on Friday due to its diseased condition, and the operation brought to light an artifact of the museum's history.
The blue oak which stood at the corner of the museum property on Main and Mill street, has been in a declining condition for several years, according to county officials.
As a result, the county hired Northcoast Tree Care to take it down. A crane was needed to lift it over the museum's wrought iron fence.
Northcoast's staff estimated the tree was 70 feet high and 4 feet in diameter.
Lake County Museum Assistant Curator Tony Pierucci said much of the tree was rotted out, which was making it a challenge to try to do a tree ring analysis and estimate its age.
Pierucci said he would approximate the age of the tree to at least 50 years prior to the construction of the schoolhouse in 1877.
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One way on estimating the age came in the form of an artifact that was discovered when the tree was taken down on Friday.
The artifact in question was a large bar that had been pounded through the tree decades ago.
Pierucci said they knew of the existence of the bar and wanted to try to salvage it, but were surprised at how much the tree had grown around it.
He said as much as half of the tree's growth has occurred since the bar was hammered into it. They also discovered that it had a large ring at one end.
“We were just really surprised at that,” he said.
The bar was used as a hitch for the children who attended the school or for the visitors who came to attend events in the upstairs auditorium, Pierucci explained.
“It was basically the parking lot of the building,” he added.
Pierucci said he's not yet sure of what's to be done with the bulk of the tree's remains; he said that's a decision that's up to county officials and the tree removal service.
However, a portion of the tree containing the bar is to be preserved, he said.
Pierucci said they need to debug the wood first as part of the work to maintain it. Then, it will be placed on display in the museum.
So while the tree no longer stands at the corner of the museum grounds, it will still keep a place of honor at the museum.
“It's a beautiful thing,” said Pierucci.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
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VIDEO: Museum oak tree removed; tree reveals a historic artifact
- Elizabeth Larson
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