OLDEST - Cultivated Tree in America - Danvers, MA
Posted by: 
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 cultivated tree in America and the oldest fruit tree in America.
Waymark Code: WMVR72
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/22/2017
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
Type of documentation of superlative status: Sign
Location of coordinates: Slope above the tree
Web Site: [Web Link]
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