Stroytelling Week 5: The Old Oak

It stood tall above the street right in front of the Palmer’s old green house, providing shade to the pedestrians on the sidewalk and a home to the creatures around it. It was almost time for the leaves to turn, the best time of the year.  It was time for the tree to shine beautiful colors of orange and red, just in time too, since there was a big debate in the town over the tree’s existence. Eufaula used to be a growing community. The town had several ups and downs throughout the years and local businesses were hard to come by anymore. However, there was a rumor that the town would be getting several businesses in the near future with the removal of the big oak tree.

 To some folks this was okay. They had not lived in Eufaula long and thought the tree did not show any significance. To others and older folks the tree had really made the town. It was a place where several generations of families had watched town parades in the shade of the tree.

Now the town mayor thought the business was a good idea, it would bring more people to Eufaula and it would help the town grow. He planned to promote the issue and make the townspeople see that it was necessary to cut the tree down and bulldoze the old green house.

The people of Eufaula had a different idea. Mrs. Matthews had heard from Mrs. Smith, the mayor’s mother, about the dismissal of the old oak. Mrs. Mathews soon spread the word to Mrs. Callaway, who was the town gossip. Soon there was a march of upset townspeople in front of city hall. The mayor, Mr. Smith, finally made an appearance to address the angry mob. “It has come to my attention that many of you disagree with the decision to remove the old oak and bulldoze the green house; since the councilmen and I have already voted for the new business the only way to reverse the decision is to have three hundred and thirty people sign a petition against the Palmer residence and save the old oak. You have one week before termination of the property.”

Now most people would think three hundred and thirty signatures would be easy to come by. However, most of those people have never been to Eufaula. There was one woman who was very enthusiastic about saving the tree, Mrs. Daniels. She spent her Sunday afternoons sweeping the streets of Eufaula and making sure the flowers around the town had water in a drought.  

Mrs. Daniel set up a committee of volunteers of which section of Eufaula they would cover each day. Soon the group had three hundred and twenty nine signatures of the good people in Eufaula. It was Friday afternoon and if they did not find one more citizen’s signature they were going to lose and the oak would be gone forever. One of the young volunteers in the group, Hannah said she knew the one place they had not covered but it was on Twin Mountain.

 There was a reason of course; ole hateful Mrs. Maragret Schmit lived on that mountain. Her dad used to own most of the town of Eufaula before the lake was built. People say she’d been bitter about it since 1964 when the government took her father’s businesses and most of their wealth. Hannah thought maybe she could talk some sense into Margaret and she would help the town keep the tree.

 Hannah and her committee were soon outside Margaret’s old mansion. They knocked on the door and were let in by a butler. Hannah was soon face to face with Mrs. Schmit. “Ma’am we really need your help! We only need one more signature to complete this petition and it will save the old oak tree,” begged Hannah. “When I was your age I had all I ever wanted, and then the lake was put in and it hurt my daddy’s businesses, why would I help people that wanted that lake. It destroyed farmer’s homes and crops, and here we are, a poor community fighting over saving a tree.” Hannah soon turned for the door knowing that Margret wanted to make the people of Eufaula suffer like she had many years ago. “Thank you for your time Mrs. Schmit, I guess take a good look at the Palmer house before Monday,” Hannah said hatefully. “Wait! You just wait right there child. You say it’s the big oak in front of the ole Palmers’ green house? Give me that paper!” Margaret shouted. Hannah quickly ran the paper over to Mrs. Schmit before she changed her mind. Hannah had forgotten that Margaret and Mary Palmer had been best friends in high school. That is why when you drive through Eufaula today, you can see the tall branches of the old oak tree.

Author's Note: 

My writing was influenced by the story of the Spirit that lived in a tree. The tree was supposed to be cut down in order to make room for the King’s Palace. The people of the community loved the tree and would worship it. It had stood for sixty thousand years. The tree spirit convinced the king that he wanted to be cut one branch at a time. When the king heard this remark he decided the tree could stay and it would be the only thing he would build his castle around. This story relates because even after everything the town had been through it had always been there. It was based on actual facts of Eufaula because not long ago there was a debate over the tree being cut down. Thankfully the tree is still standing.

All are personal photos from my sister Caleigh Montgomery who was willing to go take pictures of the Oak tree for this assignment!