Note:
This tree toppled to the ground May 27, 2001
from disease and a storm.
Click
Here To See Fallen Tree Story Below
This
massive oak tree stood next to an abandoned farm
lane in the Shenandoah Valley near Mount Meridan
near Grottoes, VA.
According
to local tradition General Thomas "Stonewall"
Jackson stopped each morning after breakfast at
a nearby house to pray under this oak tree while
his army was encamped nearby in June of 1862.
Many
in the Shenandoah Valley have heard of the white
oak tree known as "Jackson's Prayer Tree"
which stood near Mount Meridan. It was estimated
to be anywhere from 275 to 300 years old and is
considered one of 36 most historic trees in the
United States, according to the US Forestry Department.
On
the weekend after the battle of Port Republic, troops
under General "Stonewall" Jackson, a deeply
religious man, were encamped nearby. His Sunday
worship service was held under this tree on June
15, 1862.
Wood
was collected recently during a trimming to promote
health of the tree. Some of it has been set aside
to make into ball point pens which are shown in
the image above.
Production
of the Pens from this tree began (June, 2007)
and are only available from the
Society
of Port Republic Preservationist, Inc.
PO Box 82
Port Republic, VA 24471
540-249-9226
These
Pens are offered to the public for $25 each.
They
may be ordered by e-mail
solometojp@verizon.net
Or by calling: 540-249-0040
|
The
Fall Of The Jackson Prayer Tree
by Nikki Fox
|
See
the story here:
The
Fallen Tree
A
tree that was present at the encampment of Confederate
Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s
army near Middle River in June 1862 has succumbed
to disease and time.
The towering white oak that was known locally as
Jackson’s Prayer Tree
toppled to the ground overnight May 27, said Donna
Miller,
daughter of the owner of the property in northern
Augusta County
where the tree was located.
“We’ve been anticipating this for some
time,” Miller, 55, said Thursday
of the tree’s death from disease that caused
it to rot inside.
The Prayer Tree’s age was unknown, but Miller
said her daughter,
in completing a middle school project 10 years ago,
estimated the tree’s age at more than 300 years.
Port
Republic Museum
Port Republic, VA
