Waterloo in Seneca County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Scythe Tree

Specie - Balm of Gilead

Photographed by Bruce Kelly, July 1, 2019

1. The Scythe Tree Marker

Inscription.
During the Civil War, James Wyman Johnson, came from the field one morning, hung his scythe in the crotch of a small tree and said, “Leave the scythe in the tree until I return.” He enlisted in the Union Army, Company G, 85th New York Volunteers on October 29, 1861. He died from wounds received at Plymouth, North Carolina in 1864.

His parents, refusing to believe the report, left the scythe in the tree where it remains today completely enveloped.

In 1918, World War 1, two brothers placed scythes in this same tree; Raymond L. Schaffer when enlisting in Company F, 33rd Engineers, and Lynn E. Schaffer when enlisting in the United States Navy. Both men returned, but their scythes remain embedded.

Plaque furnished by the Waterloo Rotary Club

Erected by Waterloo Rotary Club.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 29, 1861.

Location. 42° 53.756′ N, 76° 54.538′ W. Memorial is in Waterloo, New York, in Seneca County. It is on Waterloo

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Geneva Road (U.S. 20) 0.2 miles west of Brewer Road (County Route 114), on the right when traveling west. Marker and tree located just to the west of the NY State Police, Waterloo station. Location is beside the driveway of a private residence, the Scythe Tree Farm. Note, the driveway runs parallel to US-20. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 841 Waterloo Geneva Rd, Waterloo NY 13165, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Finger Lakes.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Early History of Waterloo (approx. 1.4 miles away); Waterloo 1795 - 1927 (approx. 1½ miles away); Robert S. Duncanson (approx. 2.1 miles away); General Murray Residence

The Scythe Tree and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bruce Kelly, July 1, 2019

2. The Scythe Tree and Marker

(approx. 2.2 miles away); Memorial Day (approx. 2.2 miles away); Celebrating 100 Years of High School Education in Waterloo (approx. 2.2 miles away); Skoi-Yase (approx. 2.2 miles away); Bear Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waterloo.

The remaining tip of a scythe not yet completely enveloped by the tree. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bruce Kelly, July 1, 2019

3. The remaining tip of a scythe not yet completely enveloped by the tree.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2020, by Bruce Kelly of Perry, New York. This page has been viewed 1,020 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 22, 2020, by Bruce Kelly of Perry, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.