Forgotten Bluffton: Our oldest living resident resides in Maple Grove

Posted by Fred Steiner on March 7, 2021 - 1:40pm

Note: This is the 30th column in this series. For an index and link to the previous Forgotten Bluffton column go to the bottom of this story.

Q: What is the oldest living object in Bluffton?

Hint: It’s birth occurred the same decade that Bach composed the Brandenburg Concertos, Russia’s Peter the Great ruled, Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels, and Europe explorers discovered Easter Island.

A: Bluffton’s oldest living thing entered its third century this year. It’s the enormous white oak (Quercus alba) in the far section of Maple Grove Cemetery, estimated to have been planted in 1721.

The tree’s age estimate comes from several sources that keep track of prominent Ohio trees. “Monumental Trees” website, states that our white oak is and the seventh thickest tree in Ohio.

The thickness, (circumference, or girth), is 15.3 feet, measured from about 4 and one-half feet above the ground. The ranking is based upon trees registered on the website. There are 39,948 trees registered on the site.

Upon viewing the website, the Bluffton tree is by far the most beautiful of the significant trees featured on the website. And today, Bluffton's oldest living thing is part of forgotten Bluffton.

And, concluding on a philosphical note:
"Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life."
- Herman Hesse

Click here for more information about the tree.

Forgotten Bluffton Story Index
These stories are posted on our Columns page

2020
• Little Riley Creek steps – July 31, 2020 (feature photo)
http://www.blufftonicon.com/feature/202007/forgotten-bluffton

• Riley Creek swimming pool – Aug. 9, 2020
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/08/09/forgetten-bluffton-swimming-...

• Town jail – Aug. 16, 2020
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/08/16/forgotten-bluffton-town-jail

• How Bentley Road was named – Aug. 23, 2020
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/08/23/forgotten-bluffton-how-did-b...

• How Harmon Field got its name – Aug. 30, 2020
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/08/30/forgotten-bluffton-why-our-f...

• What was the Commercial Bank? – Sept. 7, 2020
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/09/07/forgotten-bluffton-what-was-...

• AC&Y depot – Sept. 13
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/09/13/forgotten-bluffton-why-there...

• Why is Cherry Street so wide?
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/09/20/forgotten-bluffton-why-cherr...

• Grade school bell – Sept. 27
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/09/27/forgotten-bluffton-whats-sto...

• What’s the story about the Pirate mascot? – Oct. 4
http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2020/10/04/forgotten-bluffton-why-pirat...