Mystic in Stonington in New London County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Live Oak Log
From the Gervais Family Plantation
— John's Island, SC —
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2013
1. Live Oak Log Marker
This tree grew on the coast of South Carolina for over 600 years, until it was blown over by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. With help from the Gervais family, Mystic Seaport workers salvaged the tree along with ten trailer loads of prized live oak.
This tree was something of a family totem on the Gervais Plantation. Generations grew up playing on swings hung from its branches, and the family wanted to send the butt log to Mystic Seaport rather than have it destroyed.
Trees such as this one are also powerful symbols of African-American community as they are gathering points for social activities. On cold days, African-Americans living as slaves on the Gervais Plantation gathered around fires built up against this tree. Evidence of these fires can be seen in the burn marks within this log.
The gnarly growth that you see makes live oak a dense and strong wood, long favored by shipbuilders for frames and knees – parts of the structural system within a wooden ship. This fine shipbuilding wood is not generally available on the market. The upper branches from this tree have been used in various Mystic Seaport preservation projects, but there are no plans to saw up this huge log.
Erected by Mystic Seaport Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 41° 21.574′ N, 71° 57.883′ W. Marker was in Stonington, Connecticut, in New London County. It was in Mystic. Marker could be reached from the intersection of Greenmanville Avenue (Connecticut Route 27) and Bruggeman Place, on the right when traveling south. Located in Mystic Seaport. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic CT 06355, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named Live Oak Log (here, next to this marker); Compound Steam Engine (a few steps from this marker); Fish Flake (a few steps from this marker); Atlas (within shouting distance of this marker); L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); Restoring the L.A. Dunton (within shouting distance of this marker); Wolverine Semi-Diesel Engine (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.
Regarding Live Oak Log.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2013
2. Live Oak Log Marker
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker, which has a different inscription.
Also see . . . Mystic Seaport, The Museum of America and the Sea. (Submitted on September 8, 2013, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, August 26, 2013
3. Live Oak Log
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2013, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 494 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2013, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
