In Memoriam: Willow Oak, Hunting Park

Willow oak, Quercus phellos, at Old York Road and W. Hunting Park Avenue, North Philly.

A historic tree, this willow oak was blowed down during a snowstorm on March 2nd, 2018. The photo of the fallen tree was taken the next day by Ryan K, @RKPHL. This was an enormous tree. I was very proud to get the chance to establish a farmers’ market under its shade in 2010, still open on Saturday mornings as of this writing, sorry to say sans tree.

Here’s something I find reassuring: the willow oak is still represented on Google maps.

According to an article in the Daily News, this willow oak was approximately 240 years old when it fell, which means it was planted in the 1770s. I found a map from that time period and, see below, planted a red flag where the sapling would’ve been, back when it wasn’t old York Road just yet.

Willow oaks have become one of my favorite species of oaks. They grow very tall and straight when established on the streets, in the parks, and in the woods. This Hunting Park behemoth shows their potential when given lots of room. I wish there were more photos of it over the years. I cannot find anything about its final measurements.

How tall was this Hunting Park tree? Was it never measured? The only numbers I can find are from an article in The Germantown Crier called “Great and Historic Trees of Philadelphia County” by John T. McNeil, March 1968. It’s a review of the book Penn’s Woods, which is an important book in Philly’s botanical history. In the review, this Quercus phellos is listed as having a 12-foot, 9-inch circumference. Its address is listed as “Old York Road above Pike Street, Nicetown.”

They are called willow oaks because their leaves resemble the leaves of a willow tree.

Feb. 2024