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Story
June 22, 1842
Edgefield Advertiser
Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
A massive Red or Sugar Maple tree on Joseph Hobbs' farm in Ossipee, New Hampshire, measuring 28 ft circumference at base and 96 ft tall, fell in a gale. It produced 3,300 ft of inch boards and nine cords of wood, deemed the largest tree in the United States by bulk.
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THE LARGEST TREE IN NEW ENGLAND.
A giant of the forest, or many years the frequent subject of admiration to the curious visitor, has at length fallen, and we are enabled to give a more definite and certain description of him, than has been given of any of the large standing trees in our country. The tree to which we refer is an intervale Red or Sugar Maple, which has been standing on the farm and near the residence of Joseph Hobbs, Esq. of Ossipee, in this State. The circumference of the tree at the ground was 28 feet, and continued of about the same size 17 feet, perfectly straight and smooth as common blistered bar steel. At this height it parted into two branches.
The first grand branch extended 31 feet, measuring at 51 feet from the ground four feet in diameter, or rather more than 12 feet in circumference: this branch then divided into five branches, which after running 15 feet were on an average 3½ feet in circumference.
The second grand branch, after extending 39 feet, from the main trunk measured 11 feet 6 inches in circumference: it then divided into two branches, each of which at 19 feet (or 73 feet from the ground) measured 3 ft. 9 inches in circumference.
The length to the top was 96 feet.
Mr. Hobbs informs us, that he has made forty lbs. of sugar in a year from this tree. It was injured by tapping, had partially decayed near the roots, but was sound after a foot above the ground. In a severe gale of wind it was prostrated to the ground, and although much difficulty attended its preparation for the saw-mill, it is now mastered, and its product has just been ascertained to be 3,300 feet of inch boards, and nine cords of wood for fuel.
The tree was perfect in its symmetry, larger in circumference than any tree in the United States. A gentleman who has seen the Ossipee Maple and the Ohio Sycamore, (which is a very low tree) pronounces the Ossipee as decidedly of the greatest bulk.—Portsmouth Journal.
A giant of the forest, or many years the frequent subject of admiration to the curious visitor, has at length fallen, and we are enabled to give a more definite and certain description of him, than has been given of any of the large standing trees in our country. The tree to which we refer is an intervale Red or Sugar Maple, which has been standing on the farm and near the residence of Joseph Hobbs, Esq. of Ossipee, in this State. The circumference of the tree at the ground was 28 feet, and continued of about the same size 17 feet, perfectly straight and smooth as common blistered bar steel. At this height it parted into two branches.
The first grand branch extended 31 feet, measuring at 51 feet from the ground four feet in diameter, or rather more than 12 feet in circumference: this branch then divided into five branches, which after running 15 feet were on an average 3½ feet in circumference.
The second grand branch, after extending 39 feet, from the main trunk measured 11 feet 6 inches in circumference: it then divided into two branches, each of which at 19 feet (or 73 feet from the ground) measured 3 ft. 9 inches in circumference.
The length to the top was 96 feet.
Mr. Hobbs informs us, that he has made forty lbs. of sugar in a year from this tree. It was injured by tapping, had partially decayed near the roots, but was sound after a foot above the ground. In a severe gale of wind it was prostrated to the ground, and although much difficulty attended its preparation for the saw-mill, it is now mastered, and its product has just been ascertained to be 3,300 feet of inch boards, and nine cords of wood for fuel.
The tree was perfect in its symmetry, larger in circumference than any tree in the United States. A gentleman who has seen the Ossipee Maple and the Ohio Sycamore, (which is a very low tree) pronounces the Ossipee as decidedly of the greatest bulk.—Portsmouth Journal.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Giant Maple
Ossipee Tree
Largest Tree
New England
Tree Fall
Sugar Maple
What entities or persons were involved?
Joseph Hobbs
Esq.
Where did it happen?
Ossipee, In This State
Story Details
Key Persons
Joseph Hobbs
Esq.
Location
Ossipee, In This State
Story Details
A giant intervale Red or Sugar Maple tree on Joseph Hobbs' farm in Ossipee fell in a severe gale, revealing its immense size: 28 ft circumference at base for 17 ft, branching into large limbs, total height 96 ft. It yielded 3,300 ft of inch boards and nine cords of wood, confirmed as the largest by bulk in the US.