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| This rare list of named trees from the Welch era ownership of Big Trees Grove is very fragile since it was printed on very low quality paper - Author's Personal Collection |
This is the only description of named Big Trees I’ve
come across which was apparently produced by the Welch family. Though it is not dated, due to the tree descriptions it was evidently compiled by
1919.
A few items of note include:
Like many other lists, this one also repeats the story of John Charles Frémont supposedly camping within the hollow of his namesake redwood during his scientific expedition in the Spring of 1846. The first known appearance of this association in print comes in 1868 and to this day remains in dispute.
This list describes the Three Graces as Faith, Hope, and Charity when in fact they were the goddesses from Greek mythology: Thalia (good cheer), Aglaia (splendor) and Euphrosyne (mirth).
On this list and in other early accounts, the General Sherman Tree is often touted as the oldest tree in the grove. Since it would take counting its tree rings to know for sure, this claim remains just a claim. Though many people in the 19th century, including John Muir, believed the redwoods lived up to 5,000 years, scientists today say that the oldest known living redwood is just over 2,000 years old.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet Tree is now known as the U.S. Navy Tree and was dedicated in 1919.
The Cathedral Group on this list is probably referring to Ingersoll’s Cathedral.
The most interesting item is the separate listings for the Sunday School Association Tree and the Y.M.C.A. Group. In 1887 the Y.M.C.A. dedicated this multi trunk tree to their organization. The very same tree was dedicated once again in 1911 by the International Sunday School Association. So, it’s rather curious why on this list, they are listed as two separate trees.
A few items of note include:
Like many other lists, this one also repeats the story of John Charles Frémont supposedly camping within the hollow of his namesake redwood during his scientific expedition in the Spring of 1846. The first known appearance of this association in print comes in 1868 and to this day remains in dispute.
This list describes the Three Graces as Faith, Hope, and Charity when in fact they were the goddesses from Greek mythology: Thalia (good cheer), Aglaia (splendor) and Euphrosyne (mirth).
On this list and in other early accounts, the General Sherman Tree is often touted as the oldest tree in the grove. Since it would take counting its tree rings to know for sure, this claim remains just a claim. Though many people in the 19th century, including John Muir, believed the redwoods lived up to 5,000 years, scientists today say that the oldest known living redwood is just over 2,000 years old.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet Tree is now known as the U.S. Navy Tree and was dedicated in 1919.
The Cathedral Group on this list is probably referring to Ingersoll’s Cathedral.
The most interesting item is the separate listings for the Sunday School Association Tree and the Y.M.C.A. Group. In 1887 the Y.M.C.A. dedicated this multi trunk tree to their organization. The very same tree was dedicated once again in 1911 by the International Sunday School Association. So, it’s rather curious why on this list, they are listed as two separate trees.
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