Mystic in Stonington in New London County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Live Oak Log
From the Gervais Family Plantation
— Johns Island, SC —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones, June 24, 2023
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 Museum workers salvaged the tree along with ten trailer loads of prized live oak.
This tree was iconic to 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 were gathering points for social activities. On cold days, African-American people enslaved 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 Museum 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: African Americans
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Location. 41° 21.577′ N, 71° 57.884′ W. Marker is in Stonington, Connecticut, in New London County. It is in Mystic. Marker is on Greenmanville Avenue (Connecticut Route 27) north of Isham Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47 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 marker. Compound Steam Engine (a few steps from this marker); Fish Flake (a few steps from this marker); L.A. Dunton (a few steps from 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); Atlas (within shouting distance of this marker); Wolverine Semi-Diesel Engine (within shouting distance of this marker); "Hobey's Dock" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stonington.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker, which had a slightly different inscription.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones, June 24, 2023
2. Live Oak Log Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
