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The Ball Top Tree
Photo courtesy of Resurrection Bay Historical Society
The Ball Top Tree, at mile 14, was one of the oldest landmarks in the area. It was blown down by a wind storm on the night of Sept. 29/30, 1968.
The Ball Top Tree, at mile 14, was one of the oldest landmarks in the area. It was blown down by a wind storm on the night of Sept. 29/30, 1968.
It was so well-known that its demise earned it an obituary in the Oct. 3, 1968 Seward Phoenix LOG. In part the obituary said, “After the 1964 earthquake one of the first questions asked of those able to get out that far was, ‘Is the ball tree still standing?’ The fact that it was, made things seem not so bad. Oldtimers and youngsters alike will miss the familiar landmark.”
The ball on the top of the tree was a witch’s broom caused by a fungus, dwarf mistletoe. This fungus is common, but rarely produces the ball effect.
(Send your “Back when...” photo to the LOG for publication, editor@TheSewardPhoenixLOG.com.)