Balmville Tree

Local [[folklore]] has it that the tree grew when [[George Washington]] planted his [[walking stick]] while [[Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site|he]] and the [[Continental Army]] were [[New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site|encamped]] in nearby [[Newburgh (city), New York|Newburgh]] during the final years of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]],<ref name="Washington legend">Dowd, Joe; August 26, 2005; [http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/08/26/cover26.htm Folk Tales of the Mid-Hudson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114164044/http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/08/26/cover26.htm |date=2005-11-14 }}, ''[[Times-Herald Record]]''; retrieved August 13, 2006</ref> but [[core sample]]s of the tree have [[Dendrochronology|dated]] its growth to 1699, well before [[American independence]].<ref name="Severo" /> [[Andrew Jackson Downing]], [[Frederic Delano]], and [[Franklin Roosevelt]] were among the tree's admirers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rightful Heritage |last=Brinkley |first=Douglas |authorlink=Douglas Brinkley |date=2016 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |page=132}}</ref>

Local [[folklore]] has it that the tree grew when [[George Washington]] planted his [[walking stick]] while [[Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site|he]] and the [[Continental Army]] were [[New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site|encamped]] in nearby [[Newburgh (city), New York|Newburgh]] during the final years of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]],<ref name="Washington legend">Dowd, Joe; August 26, 2005; [http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/08/26/cover26.htm Folk Tales of the Mid-Hudson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114164044/http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/08/26/cover26.htm |date=2005-11-14 }}, ''[[Times-Herald Record]]''; retrieved August 13, 2006</ref> but [[core sample]]s of the tree have [[Dendrochronology|dated]] its growth to 1699, well before [[American independence]].<ref name="Severo" /> [[Andrew Jackson Downing]], [[Frederic Delano]], and [[Franklin Roosevelt]] were among the tree's admirers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rightful Heritage |last=Brinkley |first=Douglas |authorlink=Douglas Brinkley |date=2016 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |page=132}}</ref>

In the mid 20th century, it began to suffer the effects of its advanced age and [[vandalism]]. In the mid-1970s [[arborist]]s recommended it be removed as a [[traffic]] hazard. However, community groups led by Richard Severo, whose house overlooked the tree, were able to save it, citing its historic value.<ref name="Severo" />

In the mid-20th century, it began to suffer the effects of its advanced age and [[vandalism]]. In the mid-1970s [[arborist]]s recommended it be removed as a [[traffic]] hazard. However, community groups led by Richard Severo, whose house overlooked the tree, were able to save it, citing its historic value.<ref name="Severo" />

It has thus received considerable protection from the state and federal governments. An elaborate [[guy-wire]] system and adjacent metal pole help support it, and it and the small patch of land on which it grew are [[protected area|protected]], both by the [[New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation]] as a [[historic site]] and by the [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] as a "public historic park" or [[state forest]],<ref name="DECreg">[http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/regs/part193a.html Part 193.2], NYSDEC regulations.</ref> making it New York's smallest at 348 square feet (31 m²) in area. It has been listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] since 2000.<ref name="Register">[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Orange/state.html List of National Register of Historic Places] for Orange County, New York.</ref>

It has thus received considerable protection from the state and federal governments. An elaborate [[guy-wire]] system and adjacent metal pole help support it, and it and the small patch of land on which it grew are [[protected area|protected]], both by the [[New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation]] as a [[historic site]] and by the [[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] as a "public historic park" or [[state forest]],<ref name="DECreg">[http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/regs/part193a.html Part 193.2], NYSDEC regulations.</ref> making it New York's smallest at 348 square feet (31 m²) in area. It has been listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] since 2000.<ref name="Register">[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Orange/state.html List of National Register of Historic Places] for Orange County, New York.</ref>