• Thursday-What'sUP March 7 - 05:15 pm

When Emma Stout, her brother Cooper and her cousin Lily, were on Michigan Tech's Campus recently, when they spotted this big old tree near the Library and with the help of Emma's uncle, they managed to get inside the large hole on the front of the tree for a great photo op. From the look on their faces, they enjoyed checking out what it must be like to be a squirrel with a tree for your home.

Makes me wonder what could have made a hole that size in this tree and even more of a wonderment would be how it could keep growing with such a wound in its side. Just another example of how nature adapts here in the Keweenaw.

The fun kids find in the simplest things. They always manage to put smiles on our faces. What a great way to start the day!

My Side of the Mountain, redux. Great photos! Thanks, Emma!

How neat!! Thanks, Emma, for a unique photo-op!

Hey kids!! How about making me some cookies?!!!

What a cool old tree and a very cool pic of the kids in it. My grandkids would have a ball fighting over which of the seven could climb in first!

"Y'ars ago" I had heard that that tree was a Cedar of Lebanon -- maybe some Forester can correct me --, and that, during the late '60's when the original library building was being built (1967 maybe?)that the then library director, Mike Krenitsky, fought a major battle with the "powers that be" to save that tree from being cut down. I heard that story from Mike. Maybe some "old-timer" can add to it.

Treasure them old trees. The stories they could tell if they could. This past summer our tree that was estimated to be 100 yrs. old in 1962 when dad bought this farm died. So sad to see it go it provided strong branches for many tire swings and for climbing, but it helped our friend's mother's home stay warm this winter.

I think you're right, JAD, the bark on the tree does look like a Cedar of Lebanon.

Nice...the first one reminds me of a kangaroo.

Looks to me like a big Cotton Wood tree. Aren't Cedars of Lebanon evergreen trees that keep their needles year round?

Gary W... I think that is where the Keebler factory is located. LOL

Janet it's nice to see that someone remembers my dad and his successful effort to save this tree. It would not be there today if not for his lone insistence that it was not necessary to remove it in order to construct the new building. It always seemed odd at the time that a school with a forestry department wouldn't value such an old tree. It was huge even then. Perhaps it existed even before the college was founded. A majestic tree indeed.

Sarah, unlike regular cedar trees, Cedar of Lebanon trees have small clusters of leaves. There are some good photos of them on Wikipedia.

Quite a tree!

Just wanted to jump in to say that this is definitely deciduous --
I've noticed it, as it was located just outside my office for many
years! :) I always thought it was some sort of cottonwood as well,
although for some reason we called it the "Big Oak" which it most
certainly is not.

someone once told me it was an Elm tree

Speaking as a grad of said Forestry School, I can tell you definitively that it is an Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides). Cottonwoods are very fast growing trees, and despite the size of this one, it is likely not what could be considered "old" for a tree. Without any actual reference, I would feel confident in guessing the tree was planted on campus less than 100 years ago. Tech is somewhat out of the natural range for Cottonwood (they're native to about the 45th parallel and south), and not the sturdiest of trees. The big hole in its side was probably a secondary branch at one point that broke off due to wind, ice or snow loading. This provided a point for moisture to enter the tree and cause rot. If I recall correctly, there's a big slug of concrete in the center of the tree as well.

This photo from the MTU Archives may show the tree, but I can't quite recall the placement relative to the Library & Fisher Hall - the parking/streets are throwing me off: http://digarch.lib.mtu.edu/showbib.aspx?bib_id=600328#

Great pictures, Emma! Thanks for sharing your fun with us!