Drove by today. In the mist and fog. People are gathering there. A wreath has been placed on the stump. I’ve been going over in my mind exactly what kind of scenario could have led to this act. I can’t believe it to be some sort of prank by kids. Too complicated and too permanent. But what kind of anger, resentment could lead to taking it out on this simple landmark?
Oh no! The death of this tree can mean only one terrible, terrible thing. It was common practice amongst outdoor enthusiasts to salute this tree on their way up the North Shore to ward off any bad luck that might befall them during their rock-climbing, backpacking, hunting, canoeing, et al adventures. Without a tree in its place to salute I can only imagine what negativity might lie ahead for these people.
Yeah, that was probably me, Tamara, but now I feel a little bad for repeating an unsubstantiated rumor. From reading through the DNT comments section is seems as though a lot of TH students are trying to distance themselves from that notion. And I don’t blame them. For our class “prank” I wasn’t involved at all, in fact very very few students actually were. So even if it was a senior prank to cut the honking tree, and I don’t have any real evidence that it was, I’m sure very few people actually went along with it.
The truth will come out soon, I’m sure. It’s a tragedy.
Spy1 is right — what kind of person would cut down an iconic tree in the middle of the night? It’s no prank, it’s someone full of hate with a huge chip on his shoulder who blames the world for his (or her) problems. Someone on the DNT board was also saying it was someone who had to know what they were doing — cutting down a tree is serious business, and if someone did not know what they were doing, the tree would have fallen on the highway — and probably injured someone. Hard to believe someone would do this and nobody would notice, even if it was middle of the night.
Unacceptable. I KNEW I should have stopped and gotten a picture of it this winter. What a bunch of pathetic losers. Also agree that someone had to have seen something.
Very sad about this news. As a Class of 89 graduate of THHS I am very bummed out. However!!! Homegrown this weekend and I am stopping at Scotts tomorrow afternoon with a 6 pack of Surley Beer and we will toast the Honking Tree and give it its due and respect. And then I am making plans to plant a replacement tree. A nice 6 foot white pine that will grow up nice and tall over the 40 years our lifetime. And to the motherfuckers who cut the original down……they can kiss my ass!
I am a student at UMD and I saw some status of some recent graduates of Duluth East that some of their friends still in high school posted pictures of themselves cutting it down as a prank. If this is true and those pictures are out there I hope they are brought to justice.
Zra’s right– he or she or they can’t brag about this one, it’s going to eat at them — hopefully they’ll confess to someone who will then do the right thing, and justice will be served. There are funny pranks, and then there are really sick and mean pranks. This is up there in the sick and mean prank by somebosy or somebodies with some personal issues.
I’m sad and angry about this.
🙁
Drove by today. In the mist and fog. People are gathering there. A wreath has been placed on the stump. I’ve been going over in my mind exactly what kind of scenario could have led to this act. I can’t believe it to be some sort of prank by kids. Too complicated and too permanent. But what kind of anger, resentment could lead to taking it out on this simple landmark?
Oh no! The death of this tree can mean only one terrible, terrible thing. It was common practice amongst outdoor enthusiasts to salute this tree on their way up the North Shore to ward off any bad luck that might befall them during their rock-climbing, backpacking, hunting, canoeing, et al adventures. Without a tree in its place to salute I can only imagine what negativity might lie ahead for these people.
I heard something about senior prank from the high school kids.
Bummer…
The guy that lives right by there finally got fed up with everyone honking at all hours of the night.
The Two Harbors High School senior class denies its their prank.
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/119075/
Yeah, that was probably me, Tamara, but now I feel a little bad for repeating an unsubstantiated rumor. From reading through the DNT comments section is seems as though a lot of TH students are trying to distance themselves from that notion. And I don’t blame them. For our class “prank” I wasn’t involved at all, in fact very very few students actually were. So even if it was a senior prank to cut the honking tree, and I don’t have any real evidence that it was, I’m sure very few people actually went along with it.
The truth will come out soon, I’m sure. It’s a tragedy.
Plant another one?
Spy1 is right — what kind of person would cut down an iconic tree in the middle of the night? It’s no prank, it’s someone full of hate with a huge chip on his shoulder who blames the world for his (or her) problems. Someone on the DNT board was also saying it was someone who had to know what they were doing — cutting down a tree is serious business, and if someone did not know what they were doing, the tree would have fallen on the highway — and probably injured someone. Hard to believe someone would do this and nobody would notice, even if it was middle of the night.
Strikes me as a bit of drunken redneckery…
Unacceptable. I KNEW I should have stopped and gotten a picture of it this winter. What a bunch of pathetic losers. Also agree that someone had to have seen something.
We can all plant a tree in its place.
Peace
Todd
plant lots of other ones.
It’s just the principle of the matter.
Damn – It was a good tree.. Honk Honk
Very sad about this news. As a Class of 89 graduate of THHS I am very bummed out. However!!! Homegrown this weekend and I am stopping at Scotts tomorrow afternoon with a 6 pack of Surley Beer and we will toast the Honking Tree and give it its due and respect. And then I am making plans to plant a replacement tree. A nice 6 foot white pine that will grow up nice and tall over the 40 years our lifetime. And to the motherfuckers who cut the original down……they can kiss my ass!
I am a student at UMD and I saw some status of some recent graduates of Duluth East that some of their friends still in high school posted pictures of themselves cutting it down as a prank. If this is true and those pictures are out there I hope they are brought to justice.
i’m thinking it’s gonna be awful hard to brag about this one…which kinda moots the whole idea behind cutting the tree down in the first place.
Zra’s right– he or she or they can’t brag about this one, it’s going to eat at them — hopefully they’ll confess to someone who will then do the right thing, and justice will be served. There are funny pranks, and then there are really sick and mean pranks. This is up there in the sick and mean prank by somebosy or somebodies with some personal issues.
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To be a prank it must meet two conditions:
1. temporary
2. clever
This was permanent and amazingly stupid. Congratulations.
I’m also thinking that whoever does fess up with will wind up getting his ass kicked by…well, everyone.