Charlotte Big Tree Roster
One of Larry Hamilton’s enduring contributions to the Charlotte community was his Big Tree Roster, a list of the champion trees of each species in Charlotte, whether on private or public property. Once again this year, the Charlotte Tree Tribe, under the leadership of Tree Warden Mark Dillenbeck, invites all Charlotters to participate in the regular updating of that list.
The News maintains a complete list of Charlotte’s champion trees, along with photographs of many of them, on its website; click on the Tree Warden tab, then on Champion Trees. The roster can also be found on the town website.
For purposes of the roster, champion status is determined by the tree’s girth, in inches, measured four and a half feet from the ground. If you believe you have identified a candidate for champion status—a tree that is larger than the current champion of that species or that is new to the list—measure the tree at that height. Then send the measurement, along with a photo if possible, to Tree Steward Vince Crockenberg or to Deputy Tree Warden Sue Smith with the words “Champion Tree?” in the subject line. A member of the Tree Tribe will then contact you and set up a time to officially confirm the tree’s species and its girth.
Charlotte’s Champion Trees
Native to Charlotte
Ash, White 172 Lake Road Ext.
Ash, Green 90 Lake Road
Ash, Black 49 Carpenter Road (Donegan)
Aspen, Trembling 49 Upper Old Town Trail
Aspen, Big Toothed 63 Upper Old Town Trail
Basswood 164 Thorp Cove Road
Beech 130 Mt. Philo Road (McGinnis)
Birch, Black 56 Guinea Road (Butnor)
Birch, River 6 Town Green
Birch, White 63 Lake Road (Donovan/O’Donnell)
Box Elder 95 Charlotte Family Health Center, Ferry Road
Black Gum 8 Town Green
Butternut 134 Garen Road (Woodruff)
Cedar, White 150 Barber Hill Cemetery
Cedar, Red 58 Town land, Thompson’s Point Road
Cherry, Black 89 Lewis Creek Road (Cheney)
Cottonwood 174 Philo Ridge Farm
Elm, American (White) 128 Carpenter Road (Donegan)
Elm, Slippery (Red) 106 Krasnows
Hackberry 9 Town Green
Hemlock 110 Near Williams Woods (Muggenthaler)
Hickory, Shagbark 151 Whalley, off Whalley Road
Hickory, Bitternut 141 Upper Old Town Trail
Hop Hornbeam 75 Lewis Creek Road (Cheney)
Locust, Honey 142 839 One Mile Road (Preston)
Maple, Black 87 Lake Road
Maple, Sugar 211 Fox Run Road (Purdum)
Maple, Red 131 McCabe Brook, Lime Kiln Road
Maple, Silver 164 826 Carpenter Road (Lander)
Oak, Red 151 Lewis Creek Road (Cheney)
Oak, White 179 North Pasture Lane (Keenan)
Oak, Bur 183 Garen Road (Donaldson)
Oak, Swamp White 160 Ten Stones, near Montgomery residence
Oak, Scarlet 137 Spear Street (Moraska)
Oak, Pin 42 CCS
Pine, White 138 Roscoe Road (Mead and Harvey)
Pine, Red 58 Thompson’s Point Rd. (Winterthur)
Poplar, White (European) 93 Baldwin Road
Sycamore 43 Lake Road (Walker/Boynton)
Serviceberry 20 UVM Natural Area, Pease Mountain
Tamarack 64 West of Spear St. (Hinsdale)
Non-native but widely planted or escaped
Horse Chestnut 134 Horsford’s
Locust, Black 158 Horsford’s
Maple, Norway 95 Thompson’s Point Rd. (Crockenberg)
Walnut, Black 137 Converse Bay Road
Willow, Weeping 254 Mt. Philo Road, near Shelburne line
