Since the first shovel was put into the ground for the construction of the current Trenton High School Building in 1951, the addition of the Neil Van Riper Building in 1961, the building of the IMC wing in 1968, and the renovations done during the bond in 2009, there has stood a white oak tree on the north side of the building.
School officials said the existence of the tree has been acknowledged through its preservation during those building changes. The tree influenced the design of the administrative offices and the renovation to the parking lot. The tree has become the representative symbol of the Trenton Educational Foundation. This fall, as the school year started, it was noticed that there was a gap on the main trunk of the tree starting at the top of the bole and extending down to approximately 30 inches from the base. The gap was significant enough to see sunlight shining through near the top.
The school district has had an arborist and tree companies inspect the tree. All have come to the same conclusion. The 225-year-old tree has reached the end of its expected life cycle and the condition of the tree will continue to deteriorate.
In addition to the split in the trunk, there are a number of dead branches which indicate overall poor health. The recommendation is that the tree be removed. Removal is scheduled for early December before harsh winter can set in.
The high school science department will try to grow saplings from acorns collected from the tree. It is hoped that one of these saplings can be planted as a replacement for the parent tree in the future.
The district is also looking for useable wood that can be salvaged during the removal and used by the wood tech classes to create student projects. About 100 feet to the east of the white oak stands a red oak that has a similar history on the property. Officials hope that any symbolism can be shifted in its direction.