Hooker Oak

Last updated
Hooker Oak
Hooker Oak.png
Postcard featuring the Hooker Oak circa 1910
Location Bidwell Park, Chico, California
Coordinates 39°44′18″N121°49′31″W / 39.738333°N 121.825278°W / 39.738333; -121.825278
Reference no.313 [1]
USA California location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Hooker Oak in California

Hooker Oak was an extremely large valley oak tree ( Quercus lobata ) in Chico, California. Amateur botanist and local socialite Annie Bidwell, whose husband had founded Chico, named the tree in 1887 after English botanist and Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker. It was featured in the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn. The tree fell in 1977, and portions of it were later milled for use by local artisans.

Contents

Discovery

Upon first seeing the tree in 1872, Hooker declared the tree to be the largest of its species in the known world. [2] Since then other valley oaks have been found of similar size. On January 7, 1958, the Sacramento Bee reported that in 1921 the Hooker Oak was over 110 ft (34 m) tall and estimated that 7,885 people could stand under its canopy assuming 2 sq ft (0.2 m2) per person.

Death

When it fell on May 1, 1977, it was nearly a hundred feet tall (30 m) and at eight feet (2.4 m) from the ground, 29 feet (8.8 m) in circumference. The largest branch measured 111 feet (34 m) from trunk to tip and the circumference of outside branches was nearly five hundred feet (150 m). Its age had been estimated at a thousand years, but on its demise it was found to be two trees, of 325 years each which had long ago grown into one.

Disposition

Photo of loggers alongside the main trunk of the Hooker Oak in the early 1980s 80s Loggers and Hooker Oak.jpg
Photo of loggers alongside the main trunk of the Hooker Oak in the early 1980s

For three years after falling, the tree lay on the ground whist city leaders struggled to determine its fate. In the spring of 1980 the City of Chico commissioned Cal Oak Lumber Company to remove and reclaim sound portions of the tree at Cal Oak's Oroville hardwood plant; they were allowed to retain some of the wood as compensation. After milling the oak, Cal Oak arranged for the lumber to be dried at the University of California's Forest Products Laboratory.

Cal Oak set up a program using local artisans as well as the work training centers for the handicapped to produce a limited number of artistically designed items from its share of the tree. Many of these were given to various institutions, which included the Royal Botanical Gardens (in honor of its namesake), the Butte County Historical Society, Bidwell Mansion, Sacramento Valley Museum, Butte College, California State University, Chico, and the University of California at Berkeley. The Royal Botanical Gardens also received acorns from the original tree in 1981 and planted them in their gardens. Chico Fire Chief Elmer Brouillard made gavels and plaques from the wood for the Chico City Council.

Characteristics

Personnel at both Cal Oak and University of California Berkeley Forestry Lab became intrigued with the lumber. The wood turned out to be as remarkable as was the tree. In order to support its immense crown, the tree grew an abnormal portion of support wood on the upper side of its limbs and stems. This type wood is known as "tension wood" and helped provide the tree with an unbelievable high density: .88 specific gravity, roughly 50% heavier than surrounding oaks. This together with other special characteristics, provided the wood with its unique grain and character, and the tree with its longevity.

The gavel used at City Council meetings by the mayor of Chico was made from the Hooker Oak by Chico Fire Chief Elmer Brouillard. The public benches in the lobby of the Chico City Council Chambers were made out of Hooker Oak wood by local artist Paul Atkins.

The Ceremonial Mace, which is held by the head of the platform party procession during the formal Commencement Ceremonies at Chico State, contains Hooker Oak wood. The mace made its debut on May 3, 2017, during the inauguration of Chico State's first female president, Gayle E. Hutchinson. [3]

The Hooker Oak was featured Warner Brothers Studio's film The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Errol Flynn as Robin Hood forms his outlaw band beside the tree (called the "Gallows Oak" in the film).

The local branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international non-profit focusing on pre-17th Century history, is named "The Barony of Rivenoak" after the Hooker Oak. A wood from the tree appears in their ceremonial coronet.

The location of the tree is registered as a California Historical Landmark [1] and can be found in Bidwell Park. The playground erected on the site of the great tree was named in honor of Chico Fire Chief, Elmer Brouillard. A booklet, "The History of the Hooker Oak" was written by Debra Moon for the City Of Chico Bidwell Park Centennial Hooker Oak Bench Project and printed in July 2005.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Quercus kelloggii</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus kelloggii, the California black oak or Kellogg oak, is an oak in the red oak section native to western North America. Although genetically separated from them for more than 20 million years, its leaves are remarkably similar in appearance to several other members of the red oak section including the red oak and the black oak found in eastern and central North America.

<i>Ulmus americana</i> Species of tree

Ulmus americana, generally known as the American elm or, less commonly, as the white elm or water elm, is a species of elm native to eastern North America, naturally occurring from Nova Scotia west to Alberta and Montana, and south to Florida and central Texas, and is the State Tree of Massachusetts. The American elm is an extremely hardy tree that can withstand winter temperatures as low as −42 °C. Trees in areas unaffected by Dutch elm disease (DED) can live for several hundred years. A prime example of the species was the Sauble Elm, which grew beside the banks of the Sauble River in Ontario, Canada, to a height of 43 m (140 ft), with a d.b.h of 196 cm (6.43 ft) before succumbing to DED; when it was felled in 1968, a tree-ring count established that it had germinated in 1701.

<i>Quercus palustris</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus palustris, also called pin oak, swamp oak, or Spanish oak, is a tree in the red oak section of the genus Quercus. Pin oak is one of the most commonly used landscaping oaks in its native range due to its ease of transplant, relatively fast growth, and pollution tolerance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chico, California</span> City in California, United States

Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. Located in the Sacramento Valley region of Northern California, the city had a population of 101,475 in the 2020 census, reflecting an increase from 86,187 in the 2010 Census. Chico is the cultural and economic center of the northern Sacramento Valley, as well as the largest city in California north of the capital city of Sacramento. The city is known as a college town, as the home of California State University, Chico, and for Bidwell Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oroville, California</span> City in California, United States

Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California, United States. The population of the city was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 in the 2000 census. Following the 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed much of the town of Paradise, the population of Oroville increased as many people who lost their homes relocated to nearby Oroville. In 2020, the 2020 census recorded the population of Oroville at 20,042.

<i>Quercus bicolor</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus bicolor, the swamp white oak, is a North American species of medium-sized trees in the beech family. It is a common element of America's north central and northeastern mixed forests. It can survive in a variety of habitats. It forms hybrids with bur oak where they occur together in the wild.

<i>Quercus ilex</i> Oak tree species native to the Mediterranean

Quercus ilex, the evergreen oak, holly oak or holm oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the Ilex section of the genus, with acorns that mature in a single summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State University, Chico</span> Public university in Chico, California

California State University, Chico, or commonly, Chico State, is a public university in Chico, California. It was founded in 1887 as one of about 180 "normal schools" founded by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. Some closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century. It is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had a total enrollment of 16,630 students. The university offers 126 bachelor's degree programs, 35 master's degree programs, and four types of teaching credentials. Chico is a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI).

<i>Ulmus glabra</i> Camperdownii Elm cultivar

The Wych Elm cultivar Ulmus glabra 'Camperdownii', commonly known as the Camperdown Elm, was discovered about 1835–1840 as a young contorted elm growing in the forest at Camperdown House, in Dundee, Scotland, by the Earl of Camperdown's head forester, David Taylor. The young tree was lifted and replanted within the gardens of Camperdown House where it remains to this day. The original tree, which grows on its own roots, is less than 3 m tall, with a weeping habit and contorted branch structure. The earl's gardener is said to have produced the first of what are commonly recognised as Camperdown elms by grafting a cutting to the trunk of a wych elm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidwell Park</span> Municipal park in Chico, California

Bidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905, through the donation by Annie Bidwell, widow of Chico's founder, John Bidwell, of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico. Since that time, the city has purchased additional land, such as Cedar Grove in 1922, and 1,200 acres (490 ha) of land south of Big Chico Creek in upper Bidwell Park in 1995. As of 2009, the total park size is 3,670 acres (1,490 ha), nearly 11 miles (18 km) in length, making it the third largest municipal park in California and is one of the largest city parks in the United States.

<i>Ulmus rubra</i> Species of tree

Ulmus rubra, the slippery elm, is a species of elm native to eastern North America. Other common names include red elm, gray elm, soft elm, moose elm, and Indian elm.

<i>Quercus coccinea</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus coccinea, the scarlet oak, is a deciduous tree in the red oak section Lobatae of the genus Quercus, in the family Fagaceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mother Orange Tree</span> Historic site in Oroville, California

The Mother Orange Tree is the oldest living orange tree in Northern California. The California Historical Landmark is located at 400 Glen Drive in Oroville, California.

<i>Quercus phellos</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus phellos, the willow oak, is a North American species of a deciduous tree in the red oak group of oaks. It is native to the south-central and eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mingo Oak</span> White oak (Quercus alba) in West Virginia, U.S.

The Mingo Oak was a white oak in the U.S. state of West Virginia. First recognized for its age and size in 1931, the Mingo Oak was the oldest and largest living white oak tree in the world until its death in 1938.

<i>Quercus lobata</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus lobata, commonly called the valley oak or roble, is the largest of the California oaks. It is endemic to the state, growing in interior valleys and foothills from Sikiyou to San Diego counties. Deciduous, it requires year-round groundwater, and may live up to 600 years. Its thick, ridged bark and deeply lobed leaves are characteristic, and assist in identification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Chico Creek</span> River in California, United States

Big Chico Creek is a creek in northeastern California that originates near Colby Mountain in Lassen National Park. It flows 46 miles (74 km) to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County. The creek's elevation declines from 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above sea level at its head to 120 feet (37 m) where it joins the Sacramento River, as shown on the Ord Ferry USGS quadrangle. Big Chico Creek forms part of the demarcation between the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Chico, California</span> Aspect of history

The history of Chico, California, begins with the original inhabitants, the Mechoopda Maidu.

<i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> Species of tree

Ulmus parvifolia, commonly known as the Chinese elm or lacebark elm, is a species native to eastern Asia, including China, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It has been described as "one of the most splendid elms, having the poise of a graceful Nothofagus".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webster Sycamore</span> American sycamore tree in West Virginia

The Webster Sycamore was an American sycamore in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Long recognized for its size, the Webster Sycamore was the largest living American sycamore tree in West Virginia until its felling in 2010. The tree stood approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Webster Springs in Webster County, in a moist flood plain along the banks of the Back Fork Elk River, a tributary stream of the Elk River.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hooker Oak". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  2. "Sycamore is largest tree for hardwood". The Pittsburgh Press. January 24, 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  3. Rhine, Amanda. "New Face, New Mace: Special Staff Made for President's Inauguration". Chico State Today. Chico State Publications. Retrieved May 31, 2020.