Strong England Oak With A Rich History

It's twisted trunk is an indication of how long it's been standing and all it has seen.

"Been through several ice storms, tornados come through but the tree has stood tall through it all," said Shannon Griffin. "It's going to be here a lot longer than I am," he laughed.

The tree has been in the park for as long as Griffin can remember. Starting only as big as a branch it's now attached to, the tree has grown to be much larger.

"I used to have to mow around the tree when I was a kid," Griffin said.

"We were sitting at this red light right here," said Griffin's wife Emily, "And he said 'You know about this tree', and I said 'No I don't know about the tree."

Before Griffin and Emily were married they drove past the tree on a date.

"He told me the story about the tree," she said. "And about how the mayor came out and handpicked that tree."

"The Mayor came out and said 'That's it, that's the one'," said Griffin.

Griffin's father Hosea L. Griffin donated the sapling to the city to be planted in the park.

Since then it's shared his nickname, "The Hosea tree!" he said.

It stands just feet from where a veteran's memorial was built years later, and where his name is etched in stone for his contributions during the Korean War.

"Most people remember him by his name being on the memorial wall," said Griffin. "But the tree is how I choose to remember him," he said.

Hosea has been gone for eight years now, but in an effort to make the story of his donation to the city of England live on his daughter-in-law created a Facebook page telling the tree's story.

She showed her husband the page for the first time last Christmas, "It was one of the most meaningful Christmas presents that I could ever have," he said.

His father, he added, never asked for any recognition for his donation but he definitely deserved it said Griffin.

"It's a big part of England now," he said.

Since Hosea passed away the Griffin's have tried to get a plaque made for the tree, even volunteering to use their own money.

But they said it's been a nearly decade long battle since a plaque goes against city ordinances.

Click here to visit the Hosea Tree's Facebook page.