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Nominees sought for state’s Famous and Historic Trees

MINNEAPOLIS - A tree that elicits honking from passing motorists  . . . a tree whose seedling came to the U.S. in a matchbox direct from Norway . . . a tree named after a Civil War battle horse . . .

Each of these trees and a dozen more have been nominated by Minnesotans for inclusion in the upcoming national register of Famous and Historic Trees. The register will be the definitive record of famous and historic trees across the United States when it is published in 2004.

American Forests and Xcel Energy continue to seek nominations from across Minnesota. They hope to have between 50 and 100 nominees by the end of the nominating process late this year.

“We’re pleased with the quality of the nominees thus far, and we’re certain there are numerous other trees in Minnesota that are worthy of this distinction,” said Kent Larson, Xcel Energy’s state vice president for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “We’re calling on our state’s citizens to tell us about those trees so our state can be properly represented in the upcoming register.”

To qualify for inclusion in the register, a tree must meet at least some of the following criteria:

• It figures in local legend, lore or common perception.
• The tree is located at or near the home of a person who played a role in national development or was recognized for writing, invention, life’s work or other significant contributions to the state and/or nation.
• It is located at or near the site of a historical event that affected the lives of the citizens of the day, regionally or nationally.
• It was planted by an individual or group of regional or national significance.
• It has been depicted in sketches, journals, photographs or writings related to a historical event.

Among the more storied Minnesota trees nominated thus far are the aforementioned Honking Tree between Duluth and Two Harbors, the Matchbox Spruce in St. Paul and the War Horse Bur Oak in Roseville. Each of these trees has its own unique story:

• The towering Honking Tree along Trunk Highway 61 gets its name from the fact that drivers returning to Duluth from the North Shore honk their horns once as they drive by. The tree became famous in the 1960s after a state highway inspector saved it from cutting during grading work on the highway.
• The 87-year-old Matchbox Norway Spruce grew from a seedling brought to America inside a matchbox by Norwegian immigrant Edward Peterson, who moved to St. Paul in 1885 and built a house that was a replica of his family farmhouse in Norway. Peterson brought the seedling home from a trip to Norway in 1915.
• The War Horse Oak dates back to the late 1800s and got its name from a famous horse who served in the Civil War. The horse, named Don, belonged to Brigadier General William Rainey Marshall, who loved Don so much that he brought the horse back to his country estate in Minnesota after the war. The horse is buried near the oak, which is now part of Roselawn Cemetery.

Following is a list of the other Minnesota trees nominated for the register thus far:

• Assumption Chapel Tornado Tree, Chapel Hill
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area White Cedar, Boundary Waters
• Dodd Road Bur Oak, Eagan
• Coon Rapids Dam Bur Oak, Coon Rapids
• Fergus Falls Larch, Fergus Falls
• George Havens Bur Oak, Chatfield
• Hastings Oak, Hastings.
• Henderson Hackberry, Henderson
• Kohler Maples, Maplewood
• Kohlmann Hotel Silver Maple, Maplewood
• Lake of the Woods White Pine, Roseau
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Hackberry, Walnut Grove
• Majestic Cottonwood, Minneapolis
• Millennium Sugar Maple, Austin
• Pioneer Memorial Park Pines, Brandon
• Randolph Heights Sugar Maple, St. Paul
• The Red Wing Archaeological Preserve Bur Oak, Red Wing
• Rentz Cemetery Scotch Pine, West Lakeland Township
• St. Paul Tourist Cabins Cottonwood, St. Paul
• Surveyor's Bur Oak, Woodbury
• Wilderness Drive Pines, Itasca
• Witch's Tree, Grand Portage

One tree from each state will be artistically rendered for inclusion in the register.

A nomination form can be obtained on Xcel Energy’s web site at www.xcelenergy.com, under “Community and Environment>Environmental Initiatives,” or by calling 651-458-1228. Nominations also can be made directly to American Forests via its web site at www.historictrees.org.

American Forests is the world leader in tree planting for environmental restoration and preservation.  Founded in 1875, it is the oldest nonprofit conservation organization in the nation, dedicated to caring for trees and forests. More information is available at www.americanforests.org.

Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in 12 Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.2 million electricity customers and 1.7 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. In terms of customers, it is the fourth-largest combination natural gas and electricity company in the nation. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.