Town Square - Silverton, Oregon - 1890
By Homer C. Davenport, preface to "The Country Boy" - 1910

The giant oak, the tree that had many beautiful stories to tell, was voted "guilty" and was slain. That evening as its huge branches were divided among the town's people, a small party of big men gathered at the stump of the tree. They were mad men and sad men as they realized that Silverton had to change, that a newer element with higher collars and smaller hats was in command. Many of their best and bravest citizens had already gone beyond the call of human voice, others would soon follow, and the tree, being one of them, had also, made obeisance to the demand of society, fashion and wealth.