Texas has many trees which are named "The Hanging Tree" but one of the most famous is this one in Goliad, Texas. The historical marker (mounted on the small stone in the V to the right of the photograph where the two sidewalks intersect) reads as follow: "Site for court sessions at various times from 1846 to 1870, capital sentences called for by the courts were carried out immediately by means of a rope and a convenient limb. Hangings not called for by regular courts occurred here during the 1857 Cart War - a series of attacks made by Texas freighters against Mexican drivers along the Indianola-Goliad-San Antonio road. About 70 men were killed, some of them on this tree, before the war was halted by Texas Rangers."
This live oak tree, if it was mature enough to be used as a gallows 169 years ago, is probably at least 250 years old, perhaps closer to 3 or 400. They are prevalent in this area of the state and are the same trees that many of us associate with Southern plantations which have Spanish moss hanging from them.
12 comments:
such a beautiful tree to have seen so much grief. we have many trees just like this here and they are protected. can't be touches or trimmed without a permit.
What a gorgeous tree and what a story behind it!
Yikes, what a history that tree has seen!
Hmmmm. How sad the tree has been so "popular."
Beautiful tree with a sad history.
so gorgeous to be used in such a brutal way.
Such a beautiful tree with such a sad history!
It is an exceptional tree, like many I saw in SC on a visit a few years ago. We have large stately oak trees but their shape is different and not as dramatic as these beauties.
Amazing tree.
That is a huge and interesting tree with a lot of stories to tell if it could only talk!
Beautiful tree. Incredible history. I like the mention of a 'convenient limb'. I guess the appeal process has been modified just a bit over the years.
Seeing so many gorgeous live oak trees was one of the highlights of our time in Central-East Texas. This one with its history is so fascinating! A grand old tree with a colorful history (and sad tales to tell!)
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