In March 2006 in historic Sturbridge, Massachusetts, the oldest tree in town was cut down due to poor health.

The112 foot Sugar Maple stood adjacent to the town common, and "witnessed" events for the past 230-240 years.  Those events include the gathering of Sturbridge Minutemen in 1775 who practiced military exercises on the common, and was probably standing for the historic visits of Paul Revere and Gen. LaFayette.

According to Christie Higginbottom, Research Historian, Horticulture and Landscape Specialist for Old Sturbridge Village, the Witness Maple was certainly known to Pliny and Delia Freeman, members of the David and Oliver Wight families, tavern-keeper Cromwell Bullard, and many other 19th century Sturbridge residents.

With the help of Northern Tree Service, Ernie Morse saved the downed tree from becoming firewood and mulch. Ernie creates bowls, platters, boxes, pens, and even musket plugs for Revolutionary War re-enactors.