A sapling grown from a Mercer Oak acorn is growing at the site of the historic tree, which was blown down in a March storm.
By:Jane Karlicek
The historic Mercer Oak, which succumbed to high winds in March, may live again.
Or at least one of its offspring may.
Early last week, an 8-foot Mercer Oak sapling, grown from a Mercer Oak acorn, was planted where the majestic, 300-year-old white oak once stood in Princeton Battlefield Park, according to Jim Apffel, superintendent of Washington Crossing State Park, who also oversees Battlefield Park.
The sapling was planted inside the stump of the former Mercer Oak and Mr. Apffel said “It is very, very difficult to get them (saplings) to establish roots.” If this sapling does not succeed, he said, another sapling will be planted.
“We’d love to have an offspring right there,” he said.
Princeton Battlefield Park officials won’t know until next spring if the Mercer Oak sapling will grow, Mr. Apffel said. If it makes it through this summer and it blossoms next spring, “then we know we’re OK,” he said.
A split-rail fence encircles the area where the Mercer Oak stood and the sapling now grows. A marker details the historical significance of the old Mercer Oak. If the new one establishes roots and grows, a new marker detailing the old tree’s death will be put up, Mr. Apffel said.
A wind storm caused the Mercer Oak’s last four branches to fall in March. Tree surgeons and arborists cut away the last of the Mercer Oak’s trunk for public safety reasons the day after the tree fell to the ground. Many people visited Princeton Battlefield Park that weekend to say good-bye to the tree, which stood as a reminder of Princeton’s history, and took sprigs as keepsakes.
The Mercer Oak had stood for about 300 years. It was named after General Hugh Mercer, who was impaled by an English soldier’s bayonet during the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Princeton in 1777. He found a place to rest on the oak’s trunk while the fighting continued. At the conclusion of the battle, General Mercer was taken to the nearby Clarke House, where he died from his wounds.
When the tree fell in March, John Mills, curator of Princeton Battlefield Park, said he hoped a sapling would be planted in honor of its parent. Mr. Mills said the Princeton Battlefield Area Preservation Society had sent some Mercer Oak acorns in 1994 to a company that grows and preserves historic trees. Mr. Mills had said he received a notice from the company that said it had grown saplings and was ready to begin selling them.
It was unknown if the sapling came from the company. Mr. Mills could not be reached for comment Monday.