1881 Old Oak Tree

The above article, published in The Fowlerville Review, is a little difficult to read but it is quite representative of how articles looked in the late 1800s.  It reads as follows:

Another old land mark disappeared during the storm of last week.  The old oak tree standing in the road near Mr. Alsbro's farm, under whose shady boughs the first Fourth of July celebration in this township was held, was torn from its roots and left a wreck.

Oak trees were plentiful in the area when the Fowlers arrived to farm and settle the village.  As the years progressed, many of the trees were cut down for buildings, furniture, and to be used by the stave companies.  But some had stood in memorial of days' celebrations gone by, until storms proved stronger than the tree roots.