11/06/2024
Ancient Trees
I read the article in the September/October 2024 issue about old trees and forests in the Finger Lakes. We live on an old farm called “The Trant Farm” that was established in the 1860s. Many of the sugar maples are older than the farm, and one of the older ones in the backyard is about 50- to 60-feet high and 127 inches around.
We know it is at least older than the farm and barn dating 1861 because the front and back yard area and what use to be the old road had these trees here prior to the farm being built.
Just thought I would share some of that history here in Prattsburgh, NY!
— Lynn Dinehart
I enjoyed the article about The Finger Lake’s oldest trees in the September/October edition. I am a volunteer at an historic home called The Wilcox Octagon House here in Camillus, NY. The house was built in 1856. I was told by an arborist that the maple tree we have in the back yard dates back to the time before George Washington. We have been unable to find a way to give this tree some sort of special recognition that it deserves. This article may help.
Using the method of measuring the height you published, we find our tree to be 96 feet tall with a circumference of 15 feet. The roots rise out of the ground from the base of the trunk for about 3 feet before going underground. It turns a brilliant golden color in the fall and has a very gnarly bark.
Hopefully, the tree hunters will find our maple tree one of the bicentennials.
— Barb Messere
The tree I would suggest (as the oldest tree in town) was recently given an unofficial age of 500 years by an arborist and measures 15 feet 7 inches around. It is in the rear of the Hunn Cemetery, at corner of County Road 32 and Woolhouse Road. I see this tree nearly every day and I still am in awe. If our arborist is correct – estimation is based on typical growth for that species in our region – then it was a seedling about the time of Columbus’ explorations.
— Leif R. HerrGesell, Town of Canandaigua historian
