Maine man who cared for famed old tree dies at 103

AP ^ | May 14, 2012 | David Sharp

[Daffynition]

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Frank Knight's decades-long battle to save New England's tallest elm served as an inspiring tale of devotion, so it is fitting that he will be laid to rest in a coffin made from the tree he made famous.

Knight, who died Monday at 103, had affectionately referred to the 217-year-old elm nicknamed Herbie as "an old friend." The massive tree succumbed to Dutch elm disease and was cut down two years ago.

Wood from the tree was made into a casket, a secret that was kept from Knight.

[Daffynition]

FR thread about Herbie and Knight [January 10, 2010]

[Daffynition]

You were prophetic! Knight and Herbie are joined. The circle is complete.

www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2425172/posts#12

[afraidfortherepublic]

Sweet story. Thanks for posting.

[Daffynition]

Thank you. We can learn a lot from their relationahip.

[ottbmare]

A touching story of a noble deed. There is nothing more beautiful than an elm tree. We are fortunate to have several huge, magnificent specimens in our town. God keep you, Frank. I hope there are trees in heaven.

[Daffynition]

Perhaps if *we* thought more about trees and their importance to our lives, we'd spend less time fretting over politics. :)

Herbie, was estimated to be about 240 years old...wonder what Mr. Knight would be in *tree years*, if there was such a thing.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1917591/posts

I like this story b/c it shows what one person can do without the help of the government.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Daffynition]

It’s fitting that Herbie will take care of Mr. Knight now.

[gigster]

I can’t believe that this actually happened. I sent an e-mail to the tree society suggesting that this would be a fitting tribute to them both. I would like to think that I may have contributed in a small way to that decision. Thank you for notifying me of the outcome. This is one of the reasons that I love FR.

[this_ol_patriot]

When I was a kid we had elms lining the streets and I picked chestnuts with my dad, all gone now.

[Daffynition]

From wiki: **New Haven, Connecticut, had the first public tree planting program in America, producing a canopy of mature trees (including some large elms) that gave New Haven the nickname “The Elm City”.[54] This later gave rise to the Yale song, Neath the Elms.**

Most are gone now in my homestate. Elm are magnificent.

I believe we have a FReeper who is involved with the restoration of the American Chestnut...unfortunately, I can’t recall who that person is. :(

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Daffynition.