Is Newburgh Home to One of The Oldest Trees in the Country?
Officials say the large tree played a big historical role in the development of Newburgh, New York.
There's a ton of history in Newburgh, New York. There's a lot to learn there and you never know what information you're going to find out. I just learned that Newburgh has something pretty cool and it's VERY, VERY OLD.
What tree made a huge historical impact in Newburgh?
The Balmville Tree in the Town of Newburgh was planted in 1699 and it was 85 feet high with a 25 foot circumference. The tree pretty much became massive and it continued to grow as George Washington made his way into Newburgh. Imagine all the crazy things that tree must have seen? According to officials, the tree also caught the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who was just a short distance away in Hyde Park. When you have big people like that noticing you know it must have been pretty spectacular.
In 1976, The Balmville Tree was protected by New York State and this was a pretty big deal because it was the first tree to receive this kind of honor and mention.
What happened to The Balmville Tree in Newburgh?
Sadly, in 2015 The Balmville Tree had to be taken down due to safety concerns, but there's a still a small portion of it that can seen today. It's known as big historical landmark the spot is commonly used as a reflection spot and a place where people can learn more history about Newburgh.
A lot of people shared their thoughts on The Balmville Tree on the Newburgh Historical Society Page:
- "I remember celebrating its 300 year birthday in 1999 with my class, we walked from Balmville school just around the corner and sang happy birthday to it, a memory I’ll hold dear forever."-Rfffff
- "I would love a new tree of the same species to be plantedin its place. It really needs to be reborn."-garettnyc
- " I know it was dead and all but I still cried a lil bit when they chopped it"-kan_I_be
It's pretty cool that such a special and historical location has been right here in Newburgh. I wonder what we'll discover next...
SEE ALSO: Seriously! Newburgh Has A What....
Have you ever checked out what's left of The Balmville Tree before? Let us know more on the station app:
Speaking of areas in the Hudson Valley, here are some spooky wooded spots that would be perfect to film a horror movie in:
Best Wooded Area to Film a Horror Movie in the Hudson Valley
Gallery Credit: Google Maps
