Takoma Park in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

"The Presidents Tree"

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 17, 2014

1. "The Presidents Tree" Marker

Inscription.
Dedicated April 26, 1948 as a living memorial to the men who "Gave their last full measure of devotion to their county" in the War, 1861-1865.

The unique inscriptions on this American Beech Tree were carved by the nimble finger of Samuel M'Closky Fenton, a young farmer living in this area during the Civil War period.

This tree contains more than 450 carefully formed characters including the names of presidents from Washington to Johnson, also Lt. General U.S. Grant and a Lincoln word square. The tree was enclosed in 1948 by the Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning Commission to protect it for posterity.

Erected 1960 by The Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 26, 1935.

Location. 38° 59.138′ N, 77° 0.231′ W. Marker is in Takoma Park, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Maple Avenue and Sligo Creek Parkway. The marker is in the Peace Garden near the north east corner of the intersection of Maple Avenue and Sligo Creek Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Takoma Park MD 20912, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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. Sligo Creek Waterworks (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington Adventist University Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Carroll Avenue Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); In Memory of Sgt. Christopher Thornton (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Lee Jordan Field (approx. half a mile away); Lee Jordan (approx. half a mile away); B.Y. Morrison Park (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Takoma Park.

Regarding "The Presidents Tree". The beech tree died "of old age" in the 1990s and blew down in a storm in 1997. Today the iron fence is occupied by a dogwood tree surrounded by low juniper bushes.

Also see . . . The Presidents' Tree. Friends of Sligo Creek website entry:
by Dorothy Cleaveland Salisbury, read at the dedication of the Presidents' Tree, April 26, 1948. (Submitted on May 18, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 17, 2014

2. "The Presidents Tree" Marker

The gate of the protective fence was badly damaged when the tree fell in 1997.

Neighborhood Peace Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 17, 2014

3. Neighborhood Peace Garden

This garden was planted in 2003
Dedicated
To the wounded and fallen in Iraq
"The opposite of war is not peace, it's creation"
--Jonathan Larson

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 740 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.