245-Year-Old Kinnelon Tree Toppled By Storm

KINNELON, NJ — The 245-year-old butternut tree that stood in Kinnelon survived a lot over its centuries, but it could not survive Wednesday night's storm.

Heavy rains over the past week saturated the ground causing the trunk base to uproot, the Kinnelon Heritage Conversation Society said. It wasn't clear exactly how large the tree was; the last measurements, taken in 1977, put the tree at 65 feet tall, with a 144-inch circumference and 88 foot canopy.

The tree is an integral part of the town, and is featured in the town logo and on the patch worn by police officers. It stood in the Butternut Plaza, between Meadtown Shopping Center and the Stop and Shop.

Removal will begin on Thursday, but the tree is expected to have a second life. Mayor Robert Collins told NorthJersey.com they're hoping to preserve most of the wood and create benches and a fireplace mantel in the new community center.

The loss doesn't come as a total shock to the community. Collins reportedly warned residents in 2014 that the tree was diseased and rotting, and some steps were taken then to reinforce the canopy.

The historic marker placed next to the tree will remain at the site.

Kinnelon might look to Basking Ridge for inspiration in repurposing the tree. A 619-year-old tree was removed last year after it died and began to pose a safety risk. The plan for that 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.

Image via Kinnelon Heritage Conversation Society, used with permission