The last living “witness tree” outside of Abraham Lincoln’s Springfield home was destroyed during severe storms that hit the area on Thursday night, a park ranger at the historic site confirmed.
The tree, that was across from Lincoln’s home on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets in Springfield, was the last “witness tree” that would have been alive when the former president lived at the home from 1844 to 1861.
A severe line of thunderstorms capable of producing wind gusts up to 70 mph swept across the area on Thursday, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.
Randy Wells visited Lincoln’s home on Friday and shared pictures of the damaged tree with NBC Chicago.
Wells said he spoke to a NPS employee at the home and was told the tree can’t be saved.
The Lincoln family lived in the home — that is now a National Historic Site — for 17 years, according to the National Park Service website.
