Frank Knight cared for Yarmouth's champion elm (nicknamed Herbie) for more than five decades.
It should surprise no one who knew him that Frank Knight’s casket is made of elm.
The handsome, caramel-colored lumber was harvested from a tree that towered for generations over his town in coastal Maine. Not just any tall tree, either, but New England’s tallest elm, and a tree that you might say owed Frank Knight its life.
Knight, who died at 103 on Monday, first rescued the tree in the 1950s when its many companions in Yarmouth were falling to Dutch elm disease. As the town’s volunteer tree warden, he spent much of the last 50 years pruning away weakened limbs and applying insecticides and fungicides to preserve the tree’s fragile health.
You might have seen Knight in the news back in 2010, when the tree was finally felled after weathering 14 bouts with Dutch Elm. After the tree came down, the town shared the lumber with woodworkers across Maine. They produced a huge array of furniture and other work.
Among those pieces was one by Fine Woodworking contributing editor Chris Becksvoort; the elm casket in which Frank Knight will be laid to rest.
Thanks Frank, and rest in peace.
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Frank Knight cared for Yarmouth's champion elm (nicknamed Herbie) for more than five decades.
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From the fallen tree, for the fallen man. Chris Becksvoort made Knight's casket with lumber milled from the champion elm.
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When the tree came down in 2010, it stood 110 feet and its crown spanned 120. The tree yielded more than 8,000 board feet of lumber.
Comments
Great story, way to go Mr. Becksvoort.
Touching story!
I am sitting here, with tears in my eyes, to salute a dedicated tree lover. And the fine spirits of Mr. Becksvoort. Sometimes it takes the craftsmanship of a fine woodworker to bring the life of a fine man to a perfect closure.
I am choked up by this story. I am not surprised that someone chose to care for this magnificent tree for half of his very long life. We the woodworking community should ensure we say thanks often and loudly for those people those people like Frank Knight whose selfless acts preserve trees and forests alike.
Frank I hope your journey beyond allows you much peace and contentment in a grove of fabulous elms that are healthy and eternal.
Thank you Mr Becksvoort for your tribute to Frank, it is truly fitting indeed
Frank, RIP knowing your care of a simple tree has touched the heart of a person thousands of miles away
I think it's awesome that Frank's dedication to the caring of this tree was honored. It's hard to imagine caring for a tree for over 50 years. And his casket is beautiful. Thanks for a great story.
Tree-Lovers: History in wood! The Adams County Arts Council and the Gettysburg Foundation are partnering to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Wood from witness trees that were felled by storms will be made available to selected artists for a sale and exhibit in Gettysburg in 2013. Email [email protected] for a brochure or visit http://www.adamsarts.org to the wood.
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