Could Basking Ridge’s Historic Great Oak Live On As Furniture?

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The historic 600-year-old great white oak tree in Basking Ridge may have been cut down but the wood it leaves behind will live on.

The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church has created a task force to figure out what they want to do with the wood from the tree, that died this past summer. It is considered possibly the oldest tree in the country.

• See Related: Basking Ridge's 600 Year Old Ancient Tree Has Died

The possibility of the tree living on as a piece of furniture is very likely, Senior Pastor Dennis Jones told Patch.

“We have a partnership with Frank Pollaro Custom Furniture, who is very generously going to make for us a new communion table or something else that we decide together from the tree,” Jones said. “We are also looking to make another table or an item of furniture and donate it to Bernards Township Town Hall or to Oak Street School, which is right down the road and the name was inspired by the presence of the tree.”

As for the trunk left on the property, the task force is also considering creating a “fitting memorial” for the tree in its place.

“So people can return to remember the grandeur of the tree and the glory of God,” Jones said.

Right now large chunks of the tree are being kept behind the municipal building in town.

Seeing the tree gone, has created a mix of emotions for Jones.

“I don’t even know how to describe how I am feeling,” Jones said. “It is a time of sadness and loss. But it is also a really inspiring and exciting time for our community coming together. We’ve had past church members come to town to celebrate and give thanks to God for the life of that tree. We really did feel this week and still feel as though we were watching history unfold. It was a privilege to be a part of history.”

The church is still collecting donations to defray the costs to remove the tree. Donations can be made directly to the church or through the gofundme site created by the Somerset Hills Historical Society or by buying a Great White Oak T-shirt.

• See Related: Basking Ridge Artist Designs T-Shirt To Commemorate Oak Tree
• See Related: $40K Needed To Preserve Basking Ridge’s 600-Year-Old Historic Oak Tree

The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church is located at 1 East Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. For more information call 908-766-1616 or email info@brpc.org.

(Images by Jason Hutchings)

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