250th Facts: Fincastle Honeylocust still National Champ, vote for Great American Tree
Here is a subject for the Botetourt 250th anniversary celebration! The Honeylocust tree standing in the yard of Fincastle United Methodist Church and interloping on Godwin Cemetary, is likely over 200 years old. It first became National Champion about 9 years ago. Once again, it has made it to National Champion for its species.
The tree is also right now in contention for the 2020 Great American Tree, a contest being held by American Grove. If you are interested in the contest check out this website: https://thegrove.americangrove.org/groups/the-great-american-tree/albums/19/
Be sure to vote for it!
The Fincastle tree is featured in “Remarkable Trees of Virginia” a table top book that came out about 9 years ago. Dr. Jim Kerwin from Va Tech was instrumental in getting the tree nominated for National Champion as were Bob Boeren of the VDOF (at the time) and this reporter. (Here is a link to an article from 2010 that ran in the Botetourt View/ The Roanoke Times. ) A presentation of the National Champion plaque was made to Fincastle United Methodist Church to Pastor Sandra McMillen and Trustee Hiawatha Nicely.
It is a tree with purpose as well. In summer, it serves as the site for the Church’s Lemonade on the Lawn after 11 a.m. worship. Many a bridal party wed at the church has stood under her sturdy boughs for wedding photographs. Youth groups embarking on Missions and happy Seniors on Graduate Sunday and loads of families have posed with joyful smiles. Mourners have gathered to celebrate the life of the departed after funerals and at grave sites when the solace of shade is a blessing. Multitudes of Easter Egg hunters have sought treasures hidden around the roots. The Honeylocust is a tree that lives large!
One of the few blessings of the Deracho of 2012 was arriving in the darkness, to find the tree standing with very little damage. In 2014 the tree almost met it’s demise when the tree was trimmed and if not for the quirk of a Church Trustee arriving at the right moment, the tree company had planned on taking it down after misunderstanding the instructions. The trimming results are noted by Dr. Eric Wiseman in his report linked below, (though he knew nothing of the incident.)
Here is the news and some details from Virginia Tech professor Eric Wiseman who now heads up the Virginia Big Tree Program.
Statistics:
The Tree is State Champion and National champion
Circumference: 247 in.
Height: 103 ft.
Crown: 112 ft.
Points: 378
Date Last Measured: 2019
Dr. Wiseman said in his email:
“Last fall, the honeylocust at Godwin Cemetery was recognized as the national champion by American Forests. This honor is given to the largest living specimen documented in the country. The tree has also been the Virginia champion for many years.”
The tree is mostly in the church yard, but over the years grew into the cemetery. There is a photo of the iron fence that ran down by the tree (as well as another tree which did not survive,) in the cemetery around 1900 in “Fincastle Around Town” that shows the tree on the church side of the fence.
Wiseman said: “The tree is documented on our website here: http://bigtree.cnre.vt.edu/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=131“
Two hundred and twenty years and still growing. Congratulations to the Church and the Champ! May she continue to prosper.
–Cathy Benson and photo by Cathy Benson
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