HONORS FOR THE BUCKEYE STATE

The state of Ohio is well represented at Big Trees Grove. Trees were dedicated to at least four presidents from Ohio including Grant, Garfield, Harrison, and McKinley. That number could be five, though there is debate whether Taft got an official tree dedication or not.

There were two trees named for Ohio organizations. On June 14, 1902 a tree was dedicated to the Aladdin Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Columbus, Ohio. On July 12, 1912 one of the grove's monarchs was named for the Cleveland Grays, an independent militia company of that city.

Author's Personal Collection

Ohio also has the honor of having two of its governors honored at the grove. In 1915 Governor Judson Harmon visited Big Trees Grove along with three Panama-Pacific Exposition commissioners from Ohio. During their visit, a giant redwood was christened in the governor's honor.*

Governor Nash was honored back on May 13, 1901. That day at the grove was set to be special for another reason. President William McKinley was expected, but at the last minute decided to cancel due to the illness of his wife. In his place the president's cabinet members made the visit. "Gov. Nash and party arrived at the Big Trees an hour after the Presidential party left."

Governor Nash came down from San Francisco after attending the launching of the battleship "Ohio" at Mare Island. He arrived at Big Trees Grove on the narrow gauge. At the grove the governor, his Ohio companions, and local dignitaries spent about an hour among the big trees.

"The coming of Governor Nash had only been learned last night, but the citizens prepared to give him and his party a reception in keeping with their prominence. The visitors merely expected to spend half an hour among the forest giants, then take train for this city, spend a short time here and leave at 1:30 o'clock for San Francisco ... An elaborate luncheon had been prepared including several cases of [Ben Lomond] wine contributed by J.F. Coope. This luncheon proved another pleasant surprise, for the ride through the mountains had sharpened the appetites of the visitors. After the luncheon a forest giant was named after Governor Nash. It stands next to the giant named for General Grant and is among the tallest trees in the grove. The dedicatory speech was made by F.A. Hihn, one of the most prominent and wealthy citizen[s] of this county."

Governor Nash surely remembered his California trip for the rest of his life. He took home with him an unwelcome souvenir ... a very bad case of poison oak. It is believed he got it, not at Big Trees Grove, but from an earlier stop in Berkeley.

* The Governor Harmon Tree is a new addition for the "Named Trees at Big Trees Grove" list found in Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Big Trees Grove. Unfortunately, the location of the Governor Harmon Tree is unknown.

Sources: "Monterey and Santa Cruz," by George E. Wood, Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel, August 19, 1905; "Governor Nash Honored," San Francisco Chronicle, May 14, 1901; "Buckeye Party Sees Big Trees," San Francisco Call, May 14, 1901; "Nash is Happy - Ohio Executive Has a Tree Named After Him," Salt Lake Tribune, May 14, 1901; "Giant Native Redwood Christened for Harmon - Ohio Governor Inspects Big Trees of California," San Francisco Call, October 16, 1912.