Im Memoriam: The Mingo Oak

Today, in 1938, officials cut down the famed Mingo Oak.
Never heard of it?
The white oak was believed to be the largest and oldest tree in the country - dating back more than 580 years - before it was cut down.
The tree had succumbed to fungus although there are conflicting accounts that blame a local mining company's buring refuse pile for killing the tree.
The tree stood about one mile from the Mingo-Logan line, four and one- half miles from Holden on the Logan-Williamson road on property owned by the Island Creek Coal company.
A 66-foot section of the tree was taken to Meadow River Lumber Company in Rainelle to be used for lumber.