Rolland Brower measured this big chunk of Oregon white oak and estimates it weighs 8,000 pounds.
For now, a huge Oregon white oak log rests on the north end of Albany’s Oak Street near the Willamette River. It’s an impressive piece of wood.
The oak was felled by a gust, before the ice storm that followed on the weekend of Valentine’s Day, on the riverside property of Rolland K. Brower. The crown stretched across the end of the street, and the limbs were sawn off in due course.
Over the weekend, Brower posted a Facebook report showing how, with the help of neighbors and two pickups and a long steel cable, the biggest chunk of the massive trunk was winched out of his yard on improvised wooden rollers.
On Monday’s bike ride, I saw the trunk sitting there and stopped to take a closer look.
Brower has measured the big log — about 4 feet across at the base — and estimates that it weighs 8,000 pounds, give or take a few pounds. He says somebody is interested in milling it.
The question now is transport. He thinks it will take flatbed truck — a crane too, probably — and is working on arrangements to get it done.
How old do you think this tree was? Some time ago, another old oak on the property came down, and they counted the rings but lost track after 150.
This one is bigger. So Brower figures its age at 200 years. (hh)
That’s some big oak log, lying there
Written March 1st, 2021 by Hasso Hering
6 responses to “That’s some big oak log, lying there”
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Saw off a thin slab and call Willamette U or OSU and they will want to check it out.
The grand old legacies of the valley. These oaks are disappearing fast. I urge readers of this blog to preserve the oaks on their private lands. They are the habitat for many species of birds.
Does WoodMinds still do portable sawmilling? https://www.facebook.com/WoodMinds
That’s a gorgeous piece of oak. Too bad it came down in the storm.
Hasso – what about the Oak on Quarry?
Less than 1% of oak-dominated habitats are protected in parks or reserves. Currently, only private landowners hold the key to maintaining this important natural legacy. The City of Albany should adopt a conservation and preservation policy concerning Oregon White Oaks. See guide: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/white_oak_guide.pdf
One of the huge oaks that neighbors had fought to protect in the Pheasant Run development off of Crocker was also lost in the ice storm. Could Hayden Homes change its plans to build a home where this fallen oak lies and instead save the oak further to the south that they were planning to cut?