What Was So Special About This Tree Off Route 9?

For roughly 350 years, a very special tree grew in the Hudson Valley. Years after it was cut down, memories of the historic giant were fading from memory... until now.

More than half of New York State is covered by forests with more than 100 different species of trees. Further upstate, a tree that has the potential to be the largest of its kind in the planet is growing in Rensselaer County, NY... but what about the treasured giant in the Hudson Valley?

The Famous White Ash of Rockland County, NY

The tree in question began growing decades before the United States declared its independence, and even may have been used by George Washington to supply clones for his own trees in Mount Vernon. That's not all.

The Oldest Tree in Rockland County, NY

The tree, a white ash, was also recognized as both the oldest and tallest tree in Rockland County, NY and was even believed to be the largest white ash in the country at one point. Unfortunately, Hudson Valley residents can no longer find the tree that once stood tall just feet from Route 9 in Sparkill, NY.

Sadly, even the lives of centuries-old trees come to an end, and in 2013, experts declared that the famous tree had died (above). Two years later, expert crews descended on Sparkill to remove the tree that had seen centuries and centuries of American history (below).

The Biggest Tree in New York State

Currently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) lists a white ash in Livingston County, NY as the largest of its species in the state and the largest white ash example in the entire country is in nearby Morris, NJ.

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While most trees host animals like birds squirrels, and bugs, there can sometimes be a surprise in the branches. Check out what happened when a black bear decided to make a surprise appearance at SUNY New Paltz below.