The year 2007 closed out with the loss of a 200 year old downtown landmark.

Blanco City Council Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Houston explains:

“Our city public works director, Nathan Cantrell, informed the council at the December 11, 2007, meeting with a serious concern regarding the condition of the sprawling oak tree just south of City Hall. He reported meeting with a forestry agent and a licensed arborist.

The arborist came up with a bid packet calling for a series of pruning, nutrient injections and pressurized injections of fertilizers at a cost of $2150.00.

Council’s mood was to proceed, but Mother Nature intervened nine days later when a giant section fell onto Pecan Street.

The decision was made then to remove the rest of the tree becasue of possible liability if more should fall.

Blanco historian Bernice West said the tree was probably here when the last Indian raids took place in the 1850’s.

It’s very sad that something that had lived so long should now be gone.

I thought everyone should know what had happened to this downtown landmark.”