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In his booklet, Big Tree Champions of Maryland: A Record of the Largest Trees of
the Principal Species, printed in 1956, Besley discussed the birth of the Big
Tree Contest. He wrote that the forests of Maryland were rich in different kinds
of trees, “probably more than 250 native tree species, and there was a universal
interest in notable trees.” Because of this, Besley was inspired “to organize a
Big Tree program in which would be collected measurements and photographs of the
distinguished trees of Maryland.” It appears that until 1925, Besley worked
alone on this project.
“By 1925, the interest in large trees and noted trees had so increased,” Besley
wrote, “that the Maryland Forestry Association sponsored a state-wide Big Tree
Champion contest. Prizes were offered, rules were adopted, and wide publicity
were given to secure as many entries as possible. Each tree species was
classified separately so that species like dogwood and persimmon would not have
to compete with such larger trees as oaks and elms.”
 Besley developed the method of measuring big trees that was adopted by the
American Forestry Association, with only some slight modifications. Besley wrote
about this: “At this time [early 1900’s] there were no standard measurements of
trees, so it was necessary to draw up standards to insure fair comparisons. The
author devised the following standards. To qualify as a tree, the specimen must
have a single stem or trunk for at least 4 ½ feet above the ground level and a
total height of 15 feet.” Besley’s method took three important measurements
involving the trunk circumference, crown spread, and height of a tree.
In the first state-wide Maryland Big Tree Champion Contest of 1925, Besley notes
that 450 entries were received. Besley acted as “umpire in measuring those
[trees that] appeared to be competitors in the prize winning class.” After all
was said and done, the first Maryland Big Tree Champion list contained 155
species, among them the Wye Oak, the largest white oak ever recorded. In 1937,
this list was revised and published.
 We learn in the book, Wye Oak: The History of a Great Tree by Dickson J.
Preston, Fred W. Besley was behind the efforts to expand the Maryland Big Tree
Contest to a national level. Preston writes the following: “…in 1940, he
[Besley] suggested to the American Forestry Association (of which he was by now
a senior member of the board) a means of putting the Wye Oak and other declared
[Maryland] national champions to the test. His proposal was a national contest
along the lines he had been conducting in Maryland. Readers of American
Forests…would be invited to send in measurements of trees they thought should be
national champions, and the winner would be chosen by the Besley system of
measurement.”
One of the longest reigning State champions and a National Champion the Wye Oak
(Quercus alba) that was over four hundred year old at the time of it’s
death. The Wye Oak grew near Wye Mills in northern Talbot County, Maryland. A
State Park was formed around this giant old oak. Local arborists spent
considerable efforts preserving the Wye Oak during its lifetime. The trunk was
filled with cement and the heavy branches were cabled in efforts to keep the
tree whole and alive. Unfortunately, the tree fell in a spring storm in June of
2002 and the search was on to find the next champion white oak in Maryland. The
title went to a tree in Anne Arundel County while the current National Champion
is in Virginia.
 Other Maryland Trees noted for their longevity and historical presence include
the Liberty Tree located in Annapolis at St. John’s College. It was a tulip
poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), which was estimated to be approximately
400 years old. In colonial times the Sons of Liberty met under this tree. The
Liberty Tree held a prominent spot on the front lawn of the college where many
large official gatherings took place. Lafayette attended an event honoring him
on the collage green in 1824. The first Methodist sermon was preached under it
in 1772. The tree was so famous that the Daughters of the American Revolution
put up a fence to protect it from souvenir hunters who would cut away pieces to
take home. Though treated often with current acceptable treatments, the Liberty
health deteriorated and Arborists could not save it after Hurricane Floyd did
more damage in September of 1999. A ceremony celebrating its life was held and
the tree was taken down.
Located in Manchester in Carroll County, Maryland is the Lutheran White Oak.
This tree was large enough to be considered a landmark when in 1758 King George
III gave a charter to build a church near this white oak. Believed to be 320
years old the tree still stands at Immanuel Evangelical Episcopal Church and is
reported to be healthy.
The Burnside Sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis), or Witness Tree was
growing along the Antietam Creek during the battle where 22,000 Americans lost
their lives on September 17, 1862. Pictures taken days after the fight show the
young tree still standing. This tree is located in the National Park Service’s
Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg in Washington County. It lost
several large limbs in August of 2003 and did some damage to the famous bridge
it grew next to, but they both are still standing today. Antietam sycamores can
be purchased from American Forests Historic Tree Nursery.
In Elkton, Maryland in Cecil County is the Holly Hall Oak. It is a White Oak,
which is believed to be over 437 years old. The tree grew along Route 40 and
came to prominence in the late seventies when a developer purchased the land to
build a shopping Mall. The developers announced that they would deed the tree to
the town for preservation, but that was never done. The tree is still alive but
according to Maryland DNR Forest Service Cecil County Forester, it “is in poor
condition, many limbs have been removed and there is dieback in the crown and
severe decay”.
The Hoover Sycamore is another famous old tree in Carroll County. President
Herbert C. Hoover visited his family home near Linwood, where he pointed out the
large tree planted by his forefather Andrew Hoover about 1740. This tree is
reported to be looking very well.
Trees are very beneficial anywhere they grow, whether it’s in your yard, a
public park or near the roadway, the benefits are numerous. They provide:
oxygen, energy savings, a home for many wildlife species, soil retention,
watershed protection, tourism, aesthetics, and many more. Many people work with
trees, from public service agencies to certified arborists, to nurserymen. We
should all try to take care of our trees. Trees will not live forever, but we
can help them by taking some responsibilities to provide for their health and
long life, proper tree care, especially on our older trees could give us some
wonderful tree champions.
So, when you locate and nominate a big tree candidate, you are carrying on a
legacy started here in Maryland by Fred W. Besley. Indeed, it is a noble cause,
the same as announced in the first National Big Tree Champion contest held in
1940: “…to locate ‘the largest living specimens of American trees and focus
attention on the benefits of conserving these cherished landmarks.’”
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