last chance to see "Herbie"

[4genlgr]

"Herbie" a hugh American Elm in Yarmouth, Maine will have to come down next year.
Herbie is 110' tall, 244" around has a crown spread of 120 feet.

for the full article see the Portland Press Hearld August 10th issue on line

[Tom]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=275876&ac=PHnws

[SwampDonkey]

The neighbor had a big old brute on his lot to. They logged off the lot and the elm was left to later die in 3 years. I went down there a couple years ago where it stood and you know it was almost all turned to soil in 20 years, amazing. It had a circumference of 11.5 feet at the six foot mark. Also had a huge burl below were we measured. It had towered above the canopy and could be seen 3/4 mile away on the highway on a lot that had mature timber. Probably was no taller than 90 feet. We still have a few elms on farms that stand alone in a field, but they are dying off one by one.






Neighboring trees are small because it's thick and the ground is wet.

[maple flats]

We have no big elms in our area. Before Dutch Elm claimed them our streets were lined with big majestic elms but now we only get young ones thast rarely live to be 10-12" dbh. On a rare site I have seen one about 15" but that is it, then they die. One of these will someday prove resistant to Dutch Elm and we will again get big ones, but surely not in my lifetime.

[thecfarm]

Looks like a day trip in the making.About 2 hours from here.First I heard about this tree.

[4genlgr]

Herbie, the big elm tree in Yarmouth, Me, is coming down this weekend
The Portland paper has had a couple of articles on this in the past few weeks.
They  are talking about trying to use some of the wood for momento's of some kind. After being at an intersection of several main roads in town it could be quite noisey sawing the butt log if there's a mill that could handle it

[Ironwood]

I have been there about 5-6 years ago. I am trying to work a deal to mill it. We'll see, my BIL lives up the road in South Freeport. . It is on kind of a side street off the main drag. Residential as I recall.



 Ironwood

[Captain]

Reid, let me know if I can help

[Ironwood]

Thanks, it is a longshot but we'll see.

 Ironwood

[Coon]

Some of you's should just pack up a swing mill and show up on site when they are taking it down.... probably your best chance to mill it.... Heck you would have enough people there to tail for ya...

[estiers]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_old_man_and_the_tree

Looks like it is down... Maybe the rings will tell us something interesting.

[Magicman]

I never did see what happened to Herbie's lumber.

[4genlgr]

the portland press herald had a report about what's happening i tryed to load a link but was unsuccessful
dendroclimatetologist are interested in what the rings will tell them about the weather
 and it really doesn't say much about the logs except what they are planning to do with them

[Mr Mom]

The lumber is going to be auction off and they are going to keep some.
That is what i read.

Thanks Alot Mr Mom

[Mooseherder]

Herbie's trunk going to scientists.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/136009.html

[thecfarm]

Thought you all would like an update.This was in today's paper,Sun Journal Lewiston,ME

Herbie,an ancient American Elm tree,emerged from a drying kiln at Sullivan's Lumber Yard in New Gloucester and on Saturday  was sold to woodcrafters and the public.The wood is being offered to craftsman at no charge if they promise to make something customized that will be auctioned in the fall in an Internet auction.The lumber can be purchased for $10 per board feet.The artists will keep 60 percent of the proceeds and the remainder will benefit the Yarmouth Tree Trust.Herbie yielded 6000 BF and all of the wood is in good shape.One third of the lumber came from the trunk and the rest from the giant branches.

There was more,but it was just the history of the tree.