Oregon Trail Cholera Cemetery -- nr Louisville KS
N 39° 15.381 W 096° 15.043
14S E 737221 N 4348827
A repurposed gazebo that used to protect the stump of the World Champion Vieux Elm has, after an appalling act of vandalism, been converted to host a picnic table at the historic and tragic Oregon Trail cemetery near Louisville.
Waymark Code: WMGVTT
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 04/13/2013
Views: 5
This gazebo used to hold the trunk of the Vieux Elm, until it was destroyed by heartless vandals. Now it has been repurposed as a picnic area.
The Vieux Elm gazebo photo credit belongs to Kevin Boos. (
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All other photos were taken by the Benchmark Blasterz.
from the Topeka Capital Journal: (
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"Arson claims historic elm's stump
Posted: August 24, 2011 - 9:16am
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Kan. — The trunk of a Pottawatomie County American Elm tree once designated the largest in the world has been destroyed by a fire that was likely arson.
The Louis Vieux Elm grew up to 100 feet tall east of Louisville, a Pottawatomie County community north of Wamego. It was designated in the early 1980s as the largest American elm in the world.
A combination of age, the elements, disease and vandalism eventually killed the tree. But private investors tried to preserve its trunk by reinforcing it and erecting a shelter. It continued to be a tourism draw in the county.
The Manhattan Mercury reports that last week, workers found the trunk was a pile of ashes. Fire Supervisor Bruce Brazzle says he believed the fire was intentionally set." [end]