The Tree That Owns Itself, Athens, Georgia

 

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

Warren Buffett

Have you ever hear of a tree that owned itself? Well, Athens, Georgia actually has such a tree. The tree is located at South Findley Street and Dearing Street. You can’t miss it as the tree is right in the road with a chain around it. It is a beautiful white oak tree with quite the history.

The story of the tree is a unique one, in that a young boy in the l800’s named William Henry Jackson loved trees. William was the son of James Jackson who was a US Senator, Revolutionary War Veteran, Congressman, and former Governor of Georgia. The tree was on James Jackson’s property and William cherished it. When he grew to be an adult he became a professor at the University of Georgia and decided he would deed the ownership to itself and the surrounding land. He did this transaction between 1820 and 1832.

The deed read: I, W. H. Jackson, of the county of Clarke, of the one part, and the oak tree...of the county of Clarke, of the other part: Witnesseth, That the said W. H. Jackson for and in consideration of the great affection which he bears said tree, and his great desire to see it protected has conveyed, and by these presents do convey unto the said oak tree entire possession of itself and of all land within eight feet of it on all sides.

The tree was said to be the biggest tree in Athens being over 100 feet tall and its age was estimated between 150 years old to 400 years old. Erosion became a problem with the tree and George Foster Peabody used his money to put new soil, a commemorative tablet, and a chain barricade around the tree. Then during a bad ice storm in 1907, the tree had a lot of damage and unfortunately became permanently weakened. October 9, 1942 was a sad day when William’s original oak fell.

Immediately after the town looked into replacing the special tree but the small plot of land remained vacant for four years while they searched for the perfect tree. A replacement tree was growing on Captain Jack Watson’s property standing at five feet tall and was thought to be from a sapling of the original tree. Perfect. The University of Georgia got involved in transplanting the tree and it was officially dedicated on December 4, 1946.

The Athens Garden Club has taken over the maintenance of the tree. Since the tree is thought to be of the original tree, it has been nicknamed, The Son of the Tree that Owns Itself and also known as the Jackson Oak and stands over 50 feet tall now. There are two stone monuments there. One says: For and in consideration of the great love I bear this tree and the great desire I have for its protection for all time, I convey entire possession of itself and all land within eight feet of the tree on all sides. William H. Jackson. A small brass plaque states: A descendant of the tree that owns itself planted by the Junior Ladies Garden Club 1946.

The tree was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and is an Athens Historical Landmark since February 2, 1988. The tree has been featured on “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.”

This magnificent tree with a great story is a wonderful site to see in Athens, Georgia. Stop by and check it out. Till next time. Bye for now.