This is the story of an oak tree and the man who loved it.
Ah, the tree! This is one of Athens’ best told tales! The legend goes that Prof. Col. William Henry Jackson, an Athens resident, spent a lot of time under the shade of this tree during hot Georgia summers. He so delighted in this tree that he decided that it should never be cut down. In 1832 Jackson deeded the tree to itself so it would never be sold or destroyed, and it remains to this day. Well, kind of…
Fun fact: the tree standing isn’t the tree that Jackson fell in love with. The original was damaged during a storm around 1909, slowly withered, toppled and had to be removed in the mid-1940’s. Planted in its place was a sapling grown from one of the many acorns that littered the street. The official title of this here tree is The Son of The Tree That Owns Itself. It’s also known as The Jackson Tree.
Inquiring minds want to know if the tree really and truly does own itself via that deed? The answer, from what I can find, is actually a resounding no. No official documentation exists that truly solidifies the self-ownership and even if it did common law doesn’t allow for trees to own themselves (RUDE). Lastly, the land was owned by the city and not by Jackson during that time. It’s actually very much in the middle of a street lane. In an unusual twist for a town with development running seemingly unchecked for decades, the city decided to keep the tree where it was and keep both it and the story alive. Go Athens!
Today the tree is one of the most visited tourist stops in town outside of anything UGA related. You can find shirts (love this one), books, art, photography and even a beer by a local brewery.
And of course this wouldn’t be a cemetery account without featuring a grave or the like. Prof. Col. Jackson is buried at Oconee Hill Cemetery and his obelisk has an absolutely lovely view of the iron truss bridge that spans the river and connects the East and West sections. Oh, and lots of trees. The latter should make him extra happy.
