Tree Information
Common Name: loblolly pine
Scientific Name: Pinus taeda
Native/Naturalized: Native to Virginia
Database ID: 632
Status: dead
National Champion: no
Virginia Champion: no
Trunk Girth: 207 in.
Tree Height: 130 ft.
Crown Spread: 66 ft.
Points: 354
Date Last Measured: 1975
Last Measured by: Unknown
Date First Measured: 1955
Comments:
One of the most well-known champion trees from the early years of the Virginia Big Tree Program. Largest loblolly pine ever documented by Virginia Big Tree Program as of 2023. Research of the archives of American Forests magazine suggests that the tree was first nominated for national champion consideration in 1955 by Ralph G. Turner of Amelia County, Virginia. His personal connection to the tree is unknown. In 1956, the tree was officially recognized as the national champion in the April issue of American Forests magazine. It was reported as measuring 16'6" trunk girth, 128' tall, 64' crown spread, totaling 342 points.
The tree was featured in the Spring 1970 issue of Virginia Forests magazine in an article announcing the launch of the Virginia Big Tree Program as a partnership between Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Forestry Association. It was identified as one of two national champion trees in Virginia at that time, the other being the Osage-orange in Charlotte County.
During the mid-1970s, the tree was challenged for national champion status by trees in Arkansas (351 points) and North Carolina (353 points). The last official recognition of the Virginia tree as national champion by American Forests was in 1973 when it was listed as 16'7" trunk girth, 124' tall, 67' crown spread, totaling 340 points. The Fall 1975 issue of Virginia Forests magazine reported the Virginia tree as 17'3" trunk girth, 130' tall, 66' crown spread, totaling 354 points. The magazine stated that the Virginia tree was national co-champion with the Arkansas tree. It is curious that the trunk girth increased by 8" and height increased by 6' between 1973 and 1975. This suggests that the tree had sustained high vitality in its old age. Or perhaps the measurers were being a bit liberal with their measurements due to the duel with the Arkansas tree. The fact that the tree had not grown much between 1955 and 1973 makes one wonder.
According to an article in the Spring 1979 issue of Virginia Forests magazine, the tree was struck by lightning in 1976 and subsequently attacked by bark beetles in its injured and weakened condition, which led to its death. Mr. W.D. Allen was part owner of the tree (it was a boundary line tree) at that time, and he did not want to see the tree go to waste. He therefore had the tree felled and milled into lumber, mantels, and pen and pencil desk sets. These products were made available for purchase in spring 1979 and proceeds went to the Wilsons-Hebron-Ford Ruritan Club. The magazine article noted that the tree was 220 years old at the time of its death, a fact that perhaps became known once it was felled and the annual growth rings in its stump could be counted. A story passed along by Thomas Stewart of Mannsboro community (about 20 minutes from the tree in Amelia County) says that the tree was sawed by W.C. Winfree Sawmill. Mr. Stewart's father worked for W.C. Winfree as a sawyer. Around 1978 or 1979, wood from the tree was brought to the sawmill to process for someone building a home. Mr. Stewart said that he assisted his father with cutting lumber from the tree.
According to an October 2016 article published in The Progress-Index (a Southern Virginia local newspaper), the Ruritans hewed two cross-sections from the tree; one went into the Dinwiddie historic courthouse. The other cross-section was elaborately carved with the Dinwiddie County seal in 1977 and still hangs today in Council chambers in the Pamplin Administration Building. https://www.progress-index.com/story/news/local/2016/09/03/seeing-forest-for-its-trees/25273198007
Another cross-section of the tree hangs in Cheatham Hall at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Cheatham Hall is home to the College of Natural Resources and Environment as well as the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. The wooden plaque is adorned with the names of individuals and organizations who made monetary donations over $10,000 to the natural resources and forestry programs from 1970 to 2000.
Location of Tree
Tree is located in: Dinwiddie
Land Owner: S.S. Reames and W.D. Allen
GPS Coordinates: 37.1643523, -77.7761289
Directions: Exact location of the tree is not documented. However, the tree was reported as located in the Ford community of Dinwiddie County. State Route 694 in the Ford community is named Old Pine Road, presumably in association with the tree. GPS coordinates shown here are approximate to the Ford community.
Contact Information
Contact Name: Eric Wiseman
Contact Email: pwiseman@vt.edu
Contact Phone: 540-231-5148
Nominators
Original Nominator(s): Ralph G. Turner
Additional Information
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