The Tree in the Road
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| Photo Credit - © 2016, Christina McElmeel. |
At the intersection of 350th and 710th streets, stands a 100-foot-tall cottonwood tree, known today as the "Tree in the Road." The tree stands on a road 1 mile north of I-80 part way between the Wiota and Anita exits (Iowa).
Legend has it the tree was planted about 165 years ago, a surveyor was marking the line between Audubon and Cass counties and only had a cottonwood sprout on hand. Since 1890 spikes have commonly been used to mark boundary lines and survey points but this was around 1850, and Iowa had been a state for only a few short years. (Iowa entered the union on Dec. 28, 1846). According to George E. Leigh "Today, a typical mark is a brass, bronze, or aluminum disk (or rod), but marks might also be prominent objects like water towers or church spires. Well into the 20th century, the Survey used an eclectic assortment of materials as survey marks, including earthenware cones, jars, bottles, and holes drilled into rock. One surveyor tells the story of recovering several beer bottles used as survey marks buried in the permafrost on Alaska's North Slope. So, while the "kitchen sink" may not have been used to mark surveys, bottles, jugs, pots, and more certainly were used!" (Leigh, 2007, pg. 1, para 4). In this case the marker was a little sprout from a cottonwood tree.The sprout took root and grew into the massive tree it is today, becoming the intersection of the two roads.
According to Margee Shaffer, administrator for Audubon County Economic Development and Tourism, there is no evidence to prove anything - but the legend has been passed down over the years.
If you want to see the tree for yourself the GPS address to use is 350th Street, Brayton, Iowa. At the intersection of Nighthawk Ave and 350th Street I-80 exit 70, turn right onto 750 Street Drive. After approx. a quarter-mile turn left onto 340th Street Drive and drive about three miles. Then turn left onto Nighthawk Avenue. Drive about a quarter-mile and you will reach the tree.
References:
Leigh, George E. Bottles, Pots, & Pans? - Marking the Surveys of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey and NOAA. National Geodetic Survey, n.d. Note: This is a rather comprehensive history of survey markers and protocols of surveying. The author is a retired member of NOAA Corps. The article is available as a PDF at http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/history/Survey_Mark_History.pdf ).
Leigh, George E. Marking the Surveys — NOAA's Commemorative Marks. National Geodetic Survey, 2007. (WEB) http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/noaa_documents/time_capsules/2007/disc_7/celebrating200years.noaa.gov/survey_marks/welcome.html.
At
the intersection of Nighthawk Ave. and 350th St. I-80 exit 70. Turn
right onto 750th St. Drive about a quarter-mile. Turn left onto 340th
St. Drive about three miles. Turn left onto Nighthawk Ave. Drive about a
quarter-mile and you'll reach the tree. - See more at:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8830#sthash.eiMt1yv5.dpuf
At
the intersection of Nighthawk Ave. and 350th St. I-80 exit 70. Turn
right onto 750th St. Drive about a quarter-mile. Turn left onto 340th
St. Drive about three miles. Turn left onto Nighthawk Ave. Drive about a
quarter-mile and you'll reach the tree. - See more at:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8830#sthash.eiMt1yv5.dpuf
At
the intersection of Nighthawk Ave. and 350th St. I-80 exit 70. Turn
right onto 750th St. Drive about a quarter-mile. Turn left onto 340th
St. Drive about three miles. Turn left onto Nighthawk Ave. Drive about a
quarter-mile and you'll reach the tree. - See more at:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8830#sthash.eiMt1yv5.dpuf
