Lakewood's 250-Year-Old Moses Cleaveland Tree Gets Cut Down

It’s a beautiful day to visit the Moses Cleaveland tree on Summit Avenue! While you’re there, check out the poem that someone lovingly posted to the trunk. See the link in our bio for the full story about the tree and its condition. #mosescleavelandtree #1lkwd #lovinglakewood #treelinedstreets #whiteoak #summitave

A post shared by City of Lakewood, Ohio (@cityoflakewoodohio) on Feb 26, 2018 at 12:52pm PST

For more than 250 years the Moses Cleaveland tree has stood watch over Lakewood’s Summit Avenue, as generations of humans and critters alike have marveled at the white oak’s grandeur. But just recently the city decided it was time to remove the tree thanks to substantial decay and rot.

This morning, crews have carefully began to remove the tree, bringing out plenty of spectators wanting to pay their respects.

The historic Moses Cleaveland tree, so named as it’s been around since Cleveland’s founder first arrived on its shores, has been a part of David Norton’s family for six generations, sitting on their property. He told WKYC 3 that many folks have shared their memories of the tree with him.

Witness video of the tree’s final hours right here, via Fox 8 News.

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This article appears in Mar 21-27, 2018.