The Tree That Owns Itself

   The white oak owns itself and 8 feet of land in every direction, you can find it at the corner of Finley and Dearing streets. Legend says that the original tree was deeded to itself by a Col. William Jackson in his will. The deed for the property has long since been lost, if it ever existed, and I have been told that Athens Municipality takes care of the tree (Thanks guys! Seriously. I should bake you something.)  In 1946, the original tree became diseased and was replaced by a seedling grown from an acorn off the original tree, and is sometimes referred to as "The Son of the Tree That Owns Itself."

 Pack a picnic (or at least some good cheese, crackers and wine) and go hang out under the tree for an hour or so. Your time will be well spent. Hopefully, the shade of this unique tree will change your perspective a little :)

   I first learned of the Tree That Owns Itself in elementary school. A local teacher wrote a collection of short stories under the same title. I have spent many afternoons under this tree. Its one of my quiet thinking spots. My fascination with this white oak really started to build as a young adult. I was lost. I had just quit college and was in a relationship where I had very few freedoms. At the time I struggled with why I let myself, an intelligent and capable woman, be suffocated by this man and my failures at university. The contrast between myself and the tree captivated me. And to this day, I try to live in a place where I own myself, as this cherished tree does.




Read More on The tree that Owns Itself

The Tree That Owns Itself by Loretta Johnson Hammer

Five Points Bottle Shop (for wine, ask Svetlana find the perfect wine for your picnic. She really knows what she's doing)