At 212 years old, it’s Chesterfield’s most famous tree. But it’s time to say goodbye.
For 212 years, a canopy of branches has swayed above some of Chesterfield’s most historic buildings, creaking in the breeze.
They belong to the Nunnally Oak, a fixture of the Chesterfield Government Complex’s arboretum. Planted during the War of 1812, the tree has watched generations of history unfold, towering over lawmakers and visitors alike. But this fall, after years of parasites and fungi that have compromised its structure, the county will remove the oak from its post.
The tree is named for Lawson Nunnally — an assistant deputy clerk of the court who planted it in 1814. Beginning in 1916, the Nunnally Oak was measured every decade. That year, its circumference was 11 feet, 11 inches. In 2023, it had grown to 18 feet, 3 inches around.
Chesterfield began testing the tree in 2019 to monitor its health. The tests allowed arborists to map the oak from the inside out, while the county installed a support system designed to absorb shock as the tree continued to grow.
But after years of efforts to preserve it, Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Miller said the oak has reached a point where it poses a danger to people and nearby buildings. By May, there was significant enough decay both inside and outside the tree to warrant removal.
“It has its own energy, its own life,” Miller said. “Unfortunately, we’re coming to the point now where we need to bring things back into balance.”
But the Nunnally Oak’s history won’t end when it comes down.
General Services Director John Neal said three or four of the oak’s saplings will be planted in the arboretum to carry on its legacy. Once the tree is removed, its wood will also be transformed into desks, benches, commemorative items and historical artifacts.
Neal said the county plans to donate a cross section of the tree to the Chesterfield Historical Society, with significant dates marked on their corresponding rings. Branches will be turned into commemorative “wood cookies” embossed with an image of the oak.
Some of the wood will also become benches, each adorned with a plaque acknowledging its roots.
“It’s an icon. It’s a Chesterfield icon,” Neal said.
“It’s been through a lot of historical events in the county, and it’s a significant moment for us. We want to treat this with the respect that it deserves.”
The tree is expected to be removed sometime in October or November. Because of its size, the work will have to be done with spectators kept at a safe distance.
Until then, visitors are welcome to see the Nunnally Oak and pay their respects.
“It’s important to honor a truth, which is it’s a loss,” Miller said. “To ignore it would be to avoid the recognition that we are experiencing a loss.”
Contact Eleanor Shaw at eshaw@richmonder.org. She is a Report for America corps member.
