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By David Dwiggins
Since about 1670 this oak has been a landmark for a Delaware Indian Trail, for the Fort Wayne Trace, for the village of Orestes
and for God.
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| Plaque Honoring the Orestes Oak Tree - 1972 |
The heart of Orestes has been decorated for approximately 350 years by a magnificently beautiful white oak tree. The late
Raymond Davis led citizens of Orestes to gain recognition for the tree. The age was approximated by arborists from Purdue
University and in 1970 the tree measured 77 inches in diameter and towered over the Christian church parsonage. Those examining
the oak described it as monstrous for any hardwood. It miraculously survived the tornado of 1922 not to mention numerous lightning,
wind and ice storms.
Then the Big Tree began to come into the limelight. Books were written with articles about it, pictures were made of it,
and etchings were made. The Madison County Historical Society led by such prominent Andersonians as Elwood Phillips, Gene
Bock, Howard Eldon, Russell Davis, Charles and Esther Dittlinger, Helen Baumer, and David Bucove secured and dedicated a bronze
plaque to the Oak in 1973. And suddenly the Big Tree was a celebrity. Many came to see it and tourists were attracted by highway
markers.
In 1975 and 1976 the community honored the tree by celebrating in the streets during the first and second Oak Tree Festivals.
Orestes glimmered with flags, banners, ribbons, signs of promotion and the aroma of barbeque and corn on the cob filled the
air. Lights flashed, sirens screamed and many all the area high school marching bands played patriotic songs and performed
entertaining routines. Antique tractors, military organizations, Shriners, colorful clowns, shiny classic automobiles, horse
and carriages and politicians proudly paraded from the Orestes School past the tree in merriment. Multicolored floats decorated
by the churches, Red Gold and the Knights of Pythias Lodge were in the procession too. On another float Jesse White sat in
a rocking chair and smiled graciously waving with pride as she was acknowledged as the oldest resident in the neighborhood.
Vendor booths were set up selling food of sorts along the route. There was hog calling, a hula hoop contest, horse shoes,
tug-of-wars, spelling bees, a beard growing contest and costume competitions. There were also several skits portraying historical
events that happened in the area years ago. The town was festive and full of life contrary to the sleepy village Orestes normally
was.
Tree lovers Rob Simpson of Nashville, Indiana, a past president of the state Arbor Society and Ron Hendrickson Gilman,
came to see the Big Tree. Due to their efforts and others the State Arborists honored it the 1980 Tree of the Year. This decision
was based largely on historical merit. The Orestes Oak was not the oldest white oak in Indiana nor was it the largest.
The Orestes Oak, long a landmark, from the time when Indian tribes used it to mark their trails, was officially named
Indiana 1980 Tree of the Year November 1, 1979, at a special dedication. Among the dignitaries appearing for the dedication
were Robert Simpson of Nashville, past president of the Indiana Arbor Society and chairperson of the tree dedication committee,
Richard Crum of Indianapolis, executive secretary of the Indiana Arbor Society, John dulling of Muncie, past president of
the International Society of Arboriculture and past president of the state and national societies. Representatives from Indiana
and Michigan, who trimmed and fed the tree vitamins prior to the dedication, were also present. They were from Fort Wayne,
Marion, and Indianapolis. One guest, Ernest Maple of Englewood, Florida traveled to Orestes for the occasion. Duling was also
chair of the International Society of Arboriculture Trust, a group that finances research all over the world in the field
of Arboriculture.
In 1980 there was another festival that was a one day affair. It resembled the other celebrations in a lesser magnitude.
In October 1989, the Oak Tree received lightning protection. The Duling Tree Expert Company of Muncie installed the protection
in the historic tree. Frances Reichart, co-owner of Orestes Red Gold, presented this protection as a gift to the town she
loves expressing how much she loved the town and wanted to preserve the tree.
After fifteen years of absence, The Oak Tree Festival returned in July 1992. John and Carolyn Shettle headed the project
as they did back in 1975 and 1976. Much of the credit of success must go to them for the direction. Joe and Evelyn Hartwell
were crowned King and Queen. A car show was added to the festivities with Erin Atwood organizing the event on Sunday. Classic
antiques and hot rods of all sorts lined the main streets in each direction. Dennis and Liz Pickering were very instrumental
as well in making the event a success. They headed the festival committee in 1993 with many of the same functions as 1992.
Clyde and Dorothy Granger were King and Queen in 1993.
The festival was chaired by Rex and Sherry Patton in 1994 with a nice parade on Friday evening July 8, 1994 and a hog
roast sponsored by the Orestes Volunteer Fire Department. R. Dee and Evelyn Thomason were crowned King and Queen. Country-Rock
Bands ended the festivities both Friday and Saturday nights. The Orestes Christian Church sold many gallons of home-made ice
cream to the festival-goers and the Orestes Baptist Church had their usual delicious chicken and noodle dinner. The Doctor
Joel Cook and the Orestes Historical Museum was dedicated June 12, 1994 and was open for the first time at the Oak Tree Festival.
The museum had many visitors and was a popular spot.
John Shettle was chairperson of the festival in 1995 in conjunction with the Orestes Centennial Celebration and has been
in charge sine that time doing a fantastic job. David Hess, Dereva Fenters, Carl and Jean Martin, Vern Horlander, Harold LaMar
and Steve Southern, and Deana and Wayne Delinger were key contributors in the success of the other festivals.
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| Oak Tree Festival Parade |
June 28, 2004, with the consent of the Orestes Christian Church Larry Maple, Garry Dwiggins and Dave Dwiggins made small cuttings
of the Orestes Oak Tree in attempt to clone the tree for future projects of the Orestes Historical Society. Selling the small
trees would aid the cost of repairs and upkeep of the Dr. Joel Cook and Orestes Musem.
Limbs smaller than a pencil were cut at a diagonal then prepared with a rooting compound before placing in water and some
in soil. Dave Dwiggins was in Orestes for the Oak Tree Festival from the Philippines so cuttings were made at this time rather
than in the spring when it is more successful. At this time we sadly report that the cuttings have not sprouted roots and
additional cuttings will be made in the spring.
The cuttings were made instead of planting acorns that fall from the tree since they are not actual cones but offspring
and do not possess the same genes.
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