At over 300 years old, this Kitchener tree has lived through history
An Elm tree that has stood in Kitchener for over 300 years is coming down after being infected with Dutch elm disease earlier this year.
The tree stood beside local private school Scholars' Hall, with director Fred Gore saying the University of Guelph did a tree coring and determined it was 307 years old back in 2000.
This means it is estimated the tree sprouted in 1693, well before Canada gained independence and the Region of Waterloo was created.
When the felling of the tree began on Wednesday, the tree would have been 329 years old based on the U of G coring study.
A centuries-old Elm tree is being taken down in Kitchener. (Tyler Kelaher/CTV News Kitchener)
NOTABLE EVENTS THIS TREE HAS LIVED THROUGH
Older than Waterloo Region, the Elm tree lived through transitionary periods, including the mapping, boundary destination and creation of Waterloo, Woolwich and Dumfries Townships.
According to the Region of Waterloo, the mapping and sale of lands in this area began in the late 1700s.
“In 1784, in recognition of their war efforts, the Six Nations were granted a large tract of land. It ran the full length of the Grand River and extended for six miles on each side. By 1798, three blocks had been sold, and in 1816 they became Waterloo, Woolwich and Dumfries Townships,” the region’s history reads.
In 2017, Canada celebrated its 150th year of independence from the British Empire, meaning the Elm tree was already over 150 years old at the celebration. The Elm tree was just over twice as old as the County of Canada.
The tree was around for over 150 years before Waterloo was incorporated as a village in 1857 and then a town in 1876. When Waterloo achieved the status of a city in 1948, the tree was already 255 years old.
In Kitchener, the tree was standing when the area known as Berlin was incorporated as a village in 1854, as a town in 1871, and as a city in 1912.
The tree was 223 years old when residents voted to change the city’s name from Berlin to Kitchener during the First World War in 1916.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 meant the tree was 233 years old when she was born, and 329 years old when she passed away.
The tree would have been 278 years old when the Queen first visited the region in 1951, and 317 years old when the Queen made her final visit in 2010 to tour what was then known as Research in Motion – now BlackBerry – in Waterloo.
In 1947, the province of Ontario first confirmed the highly contagious and deadly Dutch elm disease. The disease throughout the range of elm in Ontario. When the highly infectious fungal disease swept through Ontario, the Elm tree in Kitchener was 254 years old.
Abraham Erb, a Mennonite from Pennsylvania, was one of the first settlers to arrive in Waterloo in 1806. At the time of Erb’s arrival, the Elm tree was 113 years old.
Since 1969, the Region of Waterloo has played host to Oktoberfest festivities. The notable event draws thousands of people each year. The Elm tree was 276 years old when the first Oktoberfest was held in Kitchener-Waterloo and was felled just weeks before the festival was set to return to the region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.