ASU says goodbye to Arsenal Oak

This illustration of Arsenal Oak is from the Augusta Arsenal Daily Bulletin, December 9, 1948. The caption reads "A mighty oak from little acorns grow."

A ceremony to commemorate the life of the Arsenal Oak will be held on Thursday, June 17, at 8:30 a.m. at the site of the oak (between Hardy Hall and Reese Library). President William A. Bloodworth, Jr., will preside over the brief ceremony, in which tribute will be paid to the oak’s long life. Refreshments will follow the ceremony.

Actual removal of the oak will begin the following morning, June 18, by Empire Tree Company with the assistance of Augusta Crane Company. The roadway around the Bellevue loop will be closed to accommodate the cranes and large tractor trailors. Foot traffic from the lower parking lots will be rerouted behind Hardy and up between Hardy and Butler Halls.

A committee comprised of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends have met throughout the past year to develop plans and oversee future projects using the salvaged wood. Serving on the committee are Judith Gordon, biology; Brian Rust, fine arts; Therese Rosier, physical plant; Kathy Schofe, public relations; Ginger Chew, advancement; Tim Dobbs and Max Brown, physical plant; alumni artists Kathy Engler and Roger Finch; and Roy Simkins, Simkins Land Company.

Some of the wood will be retained for use by the university, however, most will be given to American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization, and its project Historic Trees. The nonprofit organization then develops a product for sale that is unique to the history of the wood, with proceeds going to the organization and to the university.

Plans for removal of the oak were announced to campus last week prior to an article appearing in the Augusta Chronicle on May 27. Since then, news of Arsenal Oak has been reported by the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, National Public Radio, and CNN.

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