It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

For the last of our “Gone but not Forgotten” series of images, we present the Territorial Oak, just recently lost to disease. At the foot of the photo is Ruth Engebretsen Dorr, who spearheaded a drive to place a marker for the tree in 1962.

The territorial oak was mentioned specifically in 1836 surveyor’s notes when the Whitewater area was surveyed prior to it being opened for sale from the U. S. Government. A large burr oak tree at the time, it was recognized as a local landmark as early as the 1930s.

Disease and age took its toll on the tree in recent years and it had to be cut down. But, the city will memorialize the tree in Starin Park and it will be truly “Gone but not Forgotten.”

Join us next week for more historic images from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(3341P, Whitewater Historical Society)