What Should We Do About The Rockwood Oak?

The scope of the destruction of the did not dawn on me until I ventured out into shortly after the storm.  Neighborhoods were in ruins.  And the western side of Wirth Lake was absolutely devastated, with nearly complete tree loss. The monstrous cottonwood growing by the old Loring Cascade pumping station was down.  And the venerable bur oak, .  It was heartwrenching. 

This week I grew concerned that in the urgency of tornado clean up something of significant historical value would be lost forever.  I am quite sure I irritated some with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and several of my neighbors with emails asking for input and advice on what to do about the Rockwood Oak -- one single damaged tree from a storm that has generated so much destruction, trauma and even human loss of life.  For this, I am truly sorry, and have continued to second-guess my actions.  I have tried to make it clear to all with whom I communicated that I do not want attention to one tree to in any way minimize their suffering or detract from their recovery.  I'm hoping for at least a little understanding here. 

Pictures have never done the Rockwood Oak justice.  One has to actually go see it in the context of the surrounding forest to appreciate its unique characteristics: its gnarled and almost black bark limbs and trunk, its girth, and its obviously old age.  My neighbor, Clarence Johnson, calls it 'spooky.'  That's a pretty apt description. 

Clarence kindly introduced me to the history of Wirth Park in general and the Rockwood Oak in particular when I first became involved on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Wirth Park .  Clarence has a lot of fascinating information.  He generously spoke with me at length about the park and lent me his priceless, autographed copy of Theodore Wirth's Retrospective Glimpses of the Minneapolis Park System 1883-1944. 

In his Glimpses, Wirth writes of the 'majestic' oak, which he came to call the Rockwood Oak after C.J. Rockwood, a former Park Board attorney.  Rockwood had been a strong advocate of the tree, and was instrumental in steps taken to prevent its decay and death.  When Wirth came to write about the revived tree in the 1940's, he claimed it to be “one of the finest specimens of the noble bur oak in this part of the country” and one that “With proper care may double its present venerable age.”  Sadly, the tornado of May 22, 2011 has likely cut short the amazing life of the Rockwood Oak. 

The Park Board tells me that the Rockwood Oak is “likely over 300 years old.” If that's true, it could date to the 1600's.  Even if it's only in the ballpark, it's not often that one runs across a living thing that was also alive before Minnesota became a state – even before the U.S. became a country.  The list of things and people this tree has 'seen' and survived would be truly astonishing.  I think a tree of this sort deserves more than an ignoble end in the wood chipper. 

I've been attempting to generate some effort to preserve, if not the Rockwood Oak, then its history.  One idea that came to mind was to preserve a cross-section of the tree's trunk, and display it somewhere in the park as a tree ring history – pinpointing the tree's rings with various notable historical dates. Something of this nature, I believe, would induce a healthy respect not only for the Rockwood Oak, but for all trees and the relative enormity of time they can represent.  As I once read on a bumper sticker, “It takes 100 years to make a 100 year-old tree.”  I think sometimes people can lose sight of this self-evident truth. 

I am very grateful to state that our Mayor, Linda Loomis, and the Minneapolis Park Board, through Andrea Weber, have been very thoughtful and courteous about my inquiries.  Mayor Loomis has offered to have Golden Valley forestry take a look at the Rockwood Oak – obviously after their tornado clean up duties.  And Andrea Weber has has taken some vital steps to assess the tree and help prevent Park Board forestry from removing it immediately.  I guess that leaves us with what, if anything, we can do to preserve the tree or its memories.  I believe the Park Board is listening. 

Thank you for reading and considering.  I hope you'll share any comments you may have.