The Historic Boundary Oak

[RJNorton]

It's Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and thank you to Joe Di Cola for sending a photo of the Boundary Oak. Joe writes, "It is a photo of the boundary oak that I took in summer, 1969 when the tree was still flourishing. The tree was dead seven years later, and was eventually removed. It marked one of the property boundaries of the Sinking Spring farm where Lincoln was born."

Personally, I saw this historic tree in c.1952 when my folks stopped at Lincoln's birthplace during a family vacation. The NPS has a web page devoted to the tree here.

[LincolnToddFan]

This is amazing. Gives me chills in fact. Thanks!

[Anita]

Thanks so much for the photo and great story behind it. I wonder what they did with the wood when it was finally cut down.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks so much for the photo and great story behind it.

I second this! I love the idea to see a piece of nature that provides a link to former generations.

[LincolnMan]

I would be surprised if pieces of the tree were not available for purchase.

[RJNorton]

Bill, I found that leaves and bark from the Boundary Oak were sold on e-Bay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTHENTIC-BOUNDA...339d0f06a5

[LincolnMan]

Roger: nice find. That framed item looks classy. Have you heard of the collector mention in the description? What are you thoughts on it? Other Forum members?

[RJNorton]

Bill, previously I had not heard of him, but in trying to find information I found that in 1956 he spoke to the Lincoln Club of Delaware on the topic of "Lincoln’s 1860 New England Merry-Go-Round, or Within Reach of the Brass ring of the Nomination."

http://sites.udel.edu/lincolnclub/annual-dinners/

Also, he is listed in the Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln as the owner of numerous Lincoln notes and letters to people.

Possibly Blaine will know about him.

[LincolnMan]

Well the item looks nice but there's no way to authenticate it. Therein lies the problem.

[L Verge]

Up until a dozen or so years ago, there was another famous tree associated with Mr. Lincoln and his family - the beautiful copper beech tree at Anderson/Lincoln Cottage. Lincoln and Tad and even Stanton and his son were said to have rested and/or played under and within its branches.

When it succumbed to Mother Nature and old age, however, tests were conducted and it was proven that the tree was old enough to have been there in Lincoln's time, but not old enough to have the size needed to provide shade and entertainment. Another Lincoln myth down the drain.

I was fortunate enough to have seen this wonderful tree before its demise, however, and it was truly magnificent.

[LincolnMan]

At least it was old enough to have been there during Lincoln's day.