Waukesha in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Dunbar Oak
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 2, 2011
1. Dunbar Oak Marker
Inscription.
Dunbar Oak. . Beneath an oak around August, 1868, Col. Richard Dunbar reclined after drinking freely from a nearby spring. He felt that continued use of its waters healed him of incurable diabetes. He called the spring “Bethesda” signifying mercy. He sold the waters nationally and beyond. Thus began the glamorous time known as the “Waukesha Springs ERA,” from 1868-1914.
On July 1991, the mighty 300 year old Dunbar Oak was felled by storm winds. The following spring, several cuttings were taken from the still-standing trunk. One graft was successful.
On May 24, 2004, to commemorate Waukesha’s 25 years as Tree City, U.S.A., the “new” Dunbar Oak returned to Bethesda Park where it was planted on the exact site of the original historic tree. The new tree is a cloned genetic duplicate of the original tree Col. Dunbar sat beneath.
Beneath an oak around August, 1868, Col. Richard Dunbar reclined after drinking freely from a nearby spring. He felt that continued use of its waters healed him of incurable diabetes. He called the spring “Bethesda” signifying mercy. He sold the waters nationally and beyond. Thus began the glamorous time known as the “Waukesha Springs ERA,” from 1868-1914.
On July 1991, the mighty 300 year old Dunbar Oak was felled by storm winds. The following spring, several cuttings were taken from the still-standing trunk. One graft was successful.
On May 24, 2004, to commemorate Waukesha’s 25 years as Tree City, U.S.A., the “new” Dunbar Oak returned to Bethesda Park where it was planted on the exact site of the original historic tree. The new tree is a cloned genetic duplicate of the original tree Col. Dunbar sat beneath.
Erected 2008 by Waukesha County Historical Museum Funded by the Friends of the Waukesha Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept. (Marker Number 34-06.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Notable Places. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1834.
Location. 43° 0.366′ N, 88° 14.39′ W. Marker is in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County
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. Marker is on Dunbar Avenue, ¼ mile west of North West Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located n Bethesda Spring Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 560 Dunbar Avenue, Waukesha WI 53186, United States of America. Touch for directions.
"New Dunbar Oak" next to marker and Bethesda Spring in the background.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 2, 2011
5. Dunbar Oak Marker
Bethesda Spring Park
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,321 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on June 15, 2011, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on June 15, 2011, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
