Cross-sections of Maine giant elm named Herbie to be put on display; tree lived to be 217
By APMonday, February 8, 2010
Cross-sections of Maine giant elm to be displayed
YARMOUTH, Maine — Maine officials say two cross-sections cut from a 217-year-old giant elm named Herbie will be displayed by the town of Yarmouth and the state Forest Service.
The 110-foot-tall tree was the biggest American elm in New England before it was cut down Jan. 19 after losing a battle with Dutch elm disease. Peter Lammert of the Maine Forest Service says each of the 4-inch cross-sections weighed 1,600 pounds.
Word of Herbie and his caretaker of five decades, 101-year-old Frank Knight, continues to generate interest around the region.
Lammert says a Rhode Island motorist stopped to collect sawdust while foresters were cutting on the stump Monday. Herbie also has several fan pages on Facebook.
