Sewanee’s campus lost two of its oldest living residents last week. No fanfare ensued, although these were remarkable members of our community. They were born before 1800, one or two human generations before the founding of the University. They were likely seedlings when Tennessee first became a state.
The growth revealed by the tree rings on these oak trees showed no sign of slowing until last summer when the construction company working on the University Archives dug up their roots and routed their heavy machinery directly across most of the root zone. The trees could not recover and were cut down.
David George Haskell 
Drat!
Rest in peace, ye cumberland giants.
How can we cont figure out a way to avoid this? “We murder to dissect” has become we slaughter to build.
Sorry. How can we NOT figure out a way to avoid this?
Good question. I’m currently trying to find out what is planned for the “renovation” of the golf course, where many old oaks live.