Standing as a silent witness to the history of Arrington and Williamson County stands this huge Chinkapin Oak, Quercus muehlenbergii. With a circumference of 227 inches and a crown spread of 90 feet, this estimated 340-year-old tree has seen early native Americans, buffalo herds, and Civil War soldiers move under its branches.
During the Civil War the community of Arrington had a post office nearby known as Petersburg. The Federal Army camped along Wilson Pike near the tree and General Gordon Grainger was known to have moved his troops along the shadow of the old tree.
The tree took on a life of its own in a 2022 battle over planning between developers and locals with the construction of Highland Park subdivision. The tree was ultimately saved from destruction, thanks to the efforts of the locals and a professional arborist. A small green space was even left around the tree as a community park, with the tree as a living monument. The oak was even written into the community preservation standards and the maintenance of the tree given to the HOA.
Nominated by Ruth Osburn in 2024 as a Landmark Tree.
