From Heritage Tree To Lighthouse
By Sue Clark on Oct 16, 2009 in The Light Side 
Print This Post
In Two Harbors, Minnesota, along the north shore off mighty Lake Superior, stood a 100 foot tall white pine locally known as the Honking Tree. It sat all alone along Highway 61, known as the Two Harbors Expressway, from the time the road was built in the 1960s. 
It was left standing so the Chief Inspector on the project, Charlie J. Hensley, would have a place to sit and eat his lunch while on the job.
As the only tree, and visible for several miles, it became a tradition for Minnesotans heading north to honk as they went past to signal that they were back home. Until April30 of this year. In what was another case of senseless vandalism, this tree, which had been nominated to the National List of Historic Trees, was chopped down by a chainsaw wielding massacrist.
Honking Tree
Originally uploaded by kay2den3Saddened by this wanton destruction, the citizenry mourned this tree and left memorials on its stump. But almost immediately, the good citizens of Two Harbors began planning a memorial. Although the tree would not be used to signal a return to home, there had to be something appropriate. Ah yes, there is. The ultimate in a homecoming symbol…a lighthouse.
The mayor of Two Harbors, Randy Bolen, has revealed that the trunk will be carved into a 10 or even 20 foot lighthouse. And even better, it was also revealed that the chainsaw artist (as opposed to vandal) will possibly be done for free. Tom Gelineau, public works director for Two Harbors, recommended a concrete base for the project, surrounded by rocks.
Besides the lighthouse carving, which will stand on Seventh Avenue in Two Harbors, across the street from the Dairy Queen, several smaller carvings may also come from the tree, to be determined at a later time. In the meantime, you can always buy a prototype of a section of the tree, engraved complete with dates, from the town.
Keep up with Lighthouse News. Get articles by 
Email or in a 
Reader.
1 Comment(s)
By Andrew Talbot on Jun 29, 2010 | Reply
Too bad :(that the tree was cut down, especially because in a way it creates connection to all those who pass by it. Though somehow it feels like its memory still lives on because a lighthouse is built out from it, but it’s still different when what you see is the tree itself.