The Historic Witness Tree

(back) "Dear Ruby, Look at those funny papers we sent and then give them to my Wilhelm with my 'regards'. J.Q. was here last night. I stayed all night with Aunt Lura while Uncle Edd was at lodge. Lovingly, Georgie." Addressed to : Miss Ruby Woster, R. F. W."" No. 2, Van...

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Bibliographic Details
Other Authors: Washington State University Vancouver Library; http://library.vancouver.wsu.edu/
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
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Online Access:http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/cchm_photo/id/11438
Description
Summary:(back) "Dear Ruby, Look at those funny papers we sent and then give them to my Wilhelm with my 'regards'. J.Q. was here last night. I stayed all night with Aunt Lura while Uncle Edd was at lodge. Lovingly, Georgie." Addressed to : Miss Ruby Woster, R. F. W."" No. 2, Vancouver, Wash. No postmark. Vancouver's Witness Tree is believed to have been used by Lewis and Clark to tie up their boat in 1805. In 1846, first settlers Amos and Esther Short established the cottonwood at the foot of Main Street as Vancouver's Witness Tree when they recorded their land claim in which the description read, "Begin at the Balm of the Gilead tree."". Previously the tree had been used by the Hudson Bay Company and military surveyors to establish landing points and survey lines. The tree's trunk grew to be five feet in diameter and stood 75 feet tall. In 1909 major portions of the river bank washed away and the tree could not support itself. On June 29, 1911 the tree tore loose of the bank and washed away in the river. 3.5 x 5.5 in.