Treaty Oak History
PRE-TEXAS HISTORY OF TREATY OAK |
TREATY OAK AND EARLY TEXAS HISTORY |
THE TREATY OAK'S FAME GROWS |
TREATY OAK RECENT HISTORY / POISONING |
TREATY OAK'S IMPORTANCE FOR TODAY |
The Treaty Oak is a living symbol of history. For five centuries
it has survived searing summers, dusty droughts and whistling winds, and
has drawn it sustenance from the very depths of Texas soil. It is the last
survivor of a grove of fourteen trees known to local Indians as the Council
Oaks. The original inhabitants of the area regarded it as a Tree-God. It
was a temple of worship for the Comanches and Tonkawa. In the shade of
the oak's wide spreading branches, the Native Americans would meet to dance
the war dances, smoke the peace pipe, and celebrate feasts and religious
ceremonies. Myths and magic surrounded the tree. Tejas Indians believed
that a brew from the acorns mixed with wild honey brought back from battle
the lovers to maidens who drank the potion.
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TREATY OAK AND EARLY TEXAS HISTORY - The Treaty Oak has
also played an important and romantic part in the history of the Lone Star
State. Although there is no known documentation of the fact, and it has
not been shown that he was ever in Austin, one persistent legend has the Father of
Texas, Stephen F. Austin, signing the first boundary treaty with the local
Indians under the tree, and hence its name. The treaty was needed after
Indians carried off and killed a small boy and girl found wandering by
nearby Shoal Creek and in 1841 when the first county judge went past the
grove in search of stray cattle and was killed by a Commanche war party.
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THE TREATY OAK'S FAME GROWS - As the Capitol of Texas
developed into a burgeoning city, the members of the Council Oaks fell
one by one, and by the 1920's the Treaty Oak itself was threatened. In
the late 1920's the hallowed ground where the tree is located was offered
for sale with the possibility of the tree being cut down. A cry to save
the Treaty Oak was heard across Texas. Women's organizations took up the
cause and aroused public interest through speeches and letter writing campaigns.
So great was the call that the Treaty Oak was added to the American Forestry
Association's compilation of famous and historic U.S. trees in 1929. In
the 1930's, an entire edition of the Poets' Scroll poetry magazine was
dedicated to arousing patriotic duty and responsibility to preserve the
tree. Finally, in 1937, the City of Austin recognized the level of emotion
and with funds raised, purchased the lot to "stand as a living and
fitting symbol of the mighty state it has watched develop."
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TREATY OAK RECENT HISTORY / POISONING - In recent years,
the small one-quarter acre lot around the tree has been the site of weddings,
school outings, picnics and is one stop on the Greyhound Bus Tour of Austin.
In 1989, the tree was deliberately vandalized with massive amounts of poison.
As the tree slipped into critical condition, a blank check was written
by Texas industrialist Ross Perot and experts were summoned. As the world
watched, intensive care was administered in a desperate battle to save
the tree. On the national and international electronic news media, on the
front pages of international newspapers and in news magazines across the
globe, the world wondered and waited. The culprit was arrested, tried and
convicted for his crime. While he could have received life in prison, the
jury sentenced him to nine years. His reason? Unrequited love. The efforts
to save the tree were successful and today about 35% of the tree remains. In 1997, the Treaty Oak produced its first crop of acorns since the poisoning. The acorns were collected and germinated. In 1999, all the Baby Treaty Oaks found homes in Texas and other states thus ensuring its continuing legacy.
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TREATY OAK'S IMPORTANCE FOR TODAY - With all of its worldwide
fame, the Treaty Oak has truly become a symbol of our time. It is a symbol
of nature versus our modern technology. It is a symbol of our compassion
and concern. And it is a symbol of strength and permanence in an age of
increasing vulnerability and change. The Treaty Oak is Austin's own nearly
immortal hero who will continue to give its gifts to the community long
after it is gone. It will give the gift of trees - trees planted in its
memory purchased with funds raised from the sale of objects and items made
from trimmed Treaty Oak wood - wood from limbs that have shaded Texans
for 500 years.
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