May 1, 2009
Today is a sad day in the community I grew up in. The famous Honking Tree was felled by vandals in the overnight hours of April 30. The 100-ft White Pine was a landmark and tradition for many years.

The massive White Pine was spared at the orders of Charlie Hensley, chief inspector for the Highway 61 Expressway project in the early 1960s.

“He used to sit in this area to have lunch,” said John Bray, regional spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

It was the only large tree all along the Expressway. It became a tradition to honk at the tree when passing by, just to say 'Hello!' Generations of people have honked at this tree on their way home or up visiting the North Shore.

The tree was so significant that several years back it was nominated for the National Register of Historic Trees, a list maintained by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit American Forests.

It was such a selfish and senseless act of destruction. Sure, there are millions of trees in Minnesota, but this one was special. Charlie Hensley was an environmentalist who wanted this tree to be a symbol of integrity. He so enamored by the tree that he insisted it be spared, even as other trees were being cut down, during construction of the expressway.

This tree was inspirational. It inspired me to paint "The Honking Tree" in 2003. I am sad this tree is no longer there. I am even more disappointed that I will not be able to share this honking-at-the-tree tradition with my daughter. It is just another story that has ended too early.

The painting can be viewed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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