Historic tree removed in Bernards enters its next chapter

The historic tree that stood for 600 years at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards enters its next chapter after being cut down last week.
The white oak will be delivered by crane around 8 a.m. Tuesday to Pollaro Custom Furniture in Hillside.
Pollaro will use the tree to make alter tables for the church and meeting tables for the respective Town Hall. 
It was emotional for many people in the community as the tree was removed from the Church property last week. The white oak was believed to be one of the oldest in North America.
The tree trunk measures 25 feet long and 8 feet in diameter and weighs over 48,000 pounds. It was removed because of deterioration and safety concerns.
The tree has stood witness to history and milestones since the town's inception in the 1700s. It served as a scenic backdrop for photographs and was the site of a picnic Gen. George Washington held with the Marquis de Lafayette.
The old oak will be replaced by an offspring that has already grown to 25 feet tall in the back of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church.