NEW BRAINTREE, Mass. — A centuries-old tree believed to be the largest white oak in Massachusetts has fallen victim to an arsonist.
No one is sure when the Great Oak in New Braintree burned, but it was discovered recently by a man out for a run while training for a triathlon.
Fire Chief Dennis Letendre says evidence gathered at the scene, including a glass bottle found in the hollowed out trunk, indicates arson. The fire weakened the trunk, causing the 100-foot wide canopy to collapse.
In 2000, the tree had a circumference of more than 20 feet 4-1/2 feet from the ground and was nearly 100 feet tall.
State Sen. Stephen Brewer, who represents the small central Massachusetts town, tells The Telegram & Gazette that destruction of the tree was “gruesomely hurtful.”
Copy the Story Link
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.