Basking Ridge Oak Tree Was 619 Years Old

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — It's official, Basking Ridge's historic oak tree was found to be 619 years old.

Frank Pollaro and his team examined one cross section that was solid throughout and used magnifying lenses to count the rings of the tree several times. The result is the tree began its life in 1398, according to Jon Klippel, a Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church elder and co-chair on the oak tree task force.

The tree, which was cut down in April last year after it died, has been at the Pollaro Furniture facility in Hillside where Frank Pollaro is working to preserve the wood.

• See Related: Basking Ridge's 600 Year Old Ancient Tree Has Died
• See Related: Tears Flow As 600-Year-Old NJ Tree Is Being Cut Down
• See Related: A Slice Of History: Basking Ridge Oak Tree Is Full Of 'Surprises'

The plan for the wood is to turn some of it into a communion table for the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church Sanctuary and a conference room table for Bernards Township. A cross section of the trunk will also be given to the church to serve as a memorial to the tree’s incredible history.

In addition, Pollaro also has several smaller limbs that he will cut into small cross sections to create memorial discs similar to those made for the church's fundraiser in April, Kippel said.

Preserving the wood is no easy feat, as he continues to find metal and cement everywhere, some visual, but most invisible until hit with saw blades, according to Kippel.

His saw has gone through 120 blades, including three diamond blades, all in the process of creating the boards, which will become the tables promised. Additionally, Pollaro had to commission the building of a custom saw large enough to cut across the trunk.

Along with the metal and cement inside the tree, Pollaro discovered a lead bullet in the tree presumably from the revolutionary war period.

"The balance of the wood in storage has been secured for the winter. Much of the wood in storage has the same issues of metal and cement encountered by Frank," Kippel said. "We are hoping that by spring we will develop a plan of projects for the wood that will be appropriate for the quality of wood available."

(Images via Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church with permission)

Image 1 - Jon Klippel views cement in Oak Tree trunk.

Image 2 - Cutting a cross-section.

Image 3 - The lead bullet in the tree.

Image 4 - Stickered and stacked wood, drying out for the winter.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.