Endecott Pear Tree - Danvers, MA
Posted by: Groundspeak Charter Member neoc1
N 42° 32.897 W 070° 55.807
19T E 341529 N 4712459
The Endecott (a.k.a. Endicott) Pear Tree is located down slope from the parking area behind the Osram Sylvania building at 104 Endicott Street in Danvers, MA. It is both the oldest fruit tree in America and the oldest cultivated tree in America.
Waymark Code: WMVR6Y
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/22/2017
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Dorcadion Team
Views: 3

The Endecott Pear Tree is a European Pear (Pyrus communis) tree first planted in its current location by the Governor of the Massachusetts bay Colony, John Endecott, sometime about 1632. The tree was brought over from England on the sailing ship Arbella in June 1630.

In 1964 tree was attacked by vandals. They chopped off all the branches and cut the trunk off 6 feet above the ground. However it re-sprouted. The Endecott Pear Tree is now protected by its sheltered location and surrounded by an iron fence. It is doing quite well in its protected location and still bears fruit. A bronze sign at the edge of the parking lot has the emblem of the Colonial Dames XVII Century and is inscribed:

THE ENDECOTT PEAR TREE

GROWING ON THIS SITE IS THE OLDEST
CULTIVATED TREE IN AMERICA, PLANTED ca. 1632
BY JOHN ENDECOTT, FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. THE "ENDECOTT
PEAR TREE" IS A LIVING LINK TO THE EARLIEST
EUROPEAN SETTLERS OF OUR NATION. ENDECOTT
WAS GRANTED 300 ACRES WHERE HE SETTLED
AND FARMED, CALLING THIS PROPERTY "ORCHARD
FARM." THIS ANCIENT TREE LIVES AS A SYMBOL
OF HERITAGE, STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.

PRESENTED BY
GOV. JOHN ENDECOTT CHAPTER, NSCDXVII
16 SEPTEMBER 2011

Genus/Species: European Pear (Pyrus communis)

Height: 15

Girth: 4

Method of obtaining height: Reliable source

Method of obtaining girth: Reliable source

Location type: Other public property

Age: 387

Historical significance:
Oldest cultivated tree and oldest fruit tree in America. Planted by the first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Endecott.


Planter: John Endecott

Website reference: [Web Link]

Walk time: 0

Parking coordinates: Not Listed

Photograpy coordinates: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
A closeup picture of your GPS receiver in your hand, with the tree in the background, is required. If the tree is on private property, this closeup photograph with the tree in the background may be taken from the nearest public vantage point without actually going to the tree.
The required photograph does not need to show the entire tree, but the individual tree must be recognizable.
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