ASU says farewell to Arsenal Oak

Dr. William A. Bloodworth, Jr. watches as workers remove Arsenal Oak.

Although the Arsenal Oak succumbed to wood bores and hypoxylon canker, the memories it provided many ASU faculty, staff, and students will live on forever.

Elaine Clark Smith, chair of the Augusta State University Foundation, says the tree was the central meeting place on campus.

"When we went to school here, there weren't a lot of places to meet on campus," Ms. Smith says. "The library was located in Hardy Hall and the student center was in Butler Hall, so after lunch, everyone would meet at the oak."

Ms. Smith was a student at Augusta College in the 1960s and says that many friendships and bonds were formed under the large tree.

"It has a special significance to me because I met one of my serious love interests at the tree," she says. "To this day, we are still friends."

Vicki Greene graduated from the college in 1970 and says that before Reese Library was built, the oak was the first thing you saw when entering campus.

"It was always decorated with ribbons," she says. "If you were coming on campus, meeting a boyfriend or girlfriend, or waiting to take a test, you were at the Arsenal Oak."

Ms. Greene, who is the former director of the Augusta-Richmond County Historical Society, says she's been on ASU's campus most of her life.

"I worked with the historical society for 15 years," says Ms. Greene. "The society's office is located in Reese Library."

Bill Dodd, associate vice president for academic affairs, says the oak has been a part of his life for nearly 40 years.

"I remember being told about the tree in orientation when I came here as a freshman," says Dr. Dodd. "The area in front of the tree was more of an open area so that you could get more students right around the tree."

Dr. Dodd, who received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Augusta College, remembers a wrought iron bench that at one time wrapped around the Arsenal Oak. He says that the tree grew so much, the circular bench broke and had to be taken out.

Nicolette DeLoach has worked at Augusta State for 15 years and says she was heartbroken when she heard of the oak's illness.

"I have an oak tree at home that's about the same size, and I've always wondered if it is the same age as the Arsenal Oak," she says.

Ms. DeLoach, a support specialist in Information Technology Services, says she's always compared her tree to the Arsenal Oak.

"I'm just sad to see the tree go," she says. "It's been here for so long."

Alumna Cheryl Wilson was on the annual staff when she attended Augusta College from 1967-69. She says that the staff came up with the idea to climb the oak and sit atop a branch for their group picture.

"Well, that was something we thought would make a good picture," Ms. Wilson says. "I'm not one for heights, but it turned out to be a really good picture."

Ms. Wilson says that she and a group of friends formed the Alpha Chi Alpha sorority during her time at the college. The Arsenal Oak was the meeting place for the sorority, which later became Alpha Delta Pi.

"The oak was definitely the focal point," she says. "We would take pictures around it and sit on the benches around it. We spent most of our time at the tree."