This photo show a slice of Pittsboro's champion holly tree that is on display in the local history area of Chatham Community Library. The attached "ruler" marks growth rings, indicating that the tree was planted (or began to grow on its own) about 1853. When it was cut in 2008, it was believed to be in bad health at about 155 years old. Its diameter at the time was about 34 inches. It was believed to be the oldest holly tree in the US.

For a short time, the tree's remarkable age and size made it a Pittsboro icon. It was located across West Street from the old Justice Motor Company building (then the General Store Cafe and later the Pittsboro Roadhouse). There was a community effort to save the tree, which had declined since the parking lot that surrounded it was paved about 15 years earlier, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

The Grand Trees of Chatham group saved the slice of the tree that is on display at the Chatham Community Library. We are pleased to have this reminder of a part of Pittsboro's natural history. What we DON'T have is a photo of the tree while it lived. If you have one in your photo collection, please share it with us so it can be made a permanent part of the Chatham County digital photo collection. Thanks!

There's a large holly tree in the front yard of Mike Shepherd in Pittsboro that currently holds the record for being the largest holly tree in Chatham by the Grand Trees of Chatham group. Mike reports that it is still alive and is even larger than the old "parking lot" holly. The Grand Trees records indicate that Mike's tree is 45' tall, has a trunk circumference of 111" and an average spread of 45'. According to Mike, his property was owned by the Bland family in about 1850, and the Bland sisters carved their names in the tree. So, we don't know it's exact age, but it has been around for a really long time! Mike's tree is located across the street from the Pittsboro Baptist Church in downtown Pittsboro.

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