"Franklin Square’s oldest tree may be gone from the park, but parts of it are staying in the neighborhood."

The oldest tree in Franklin Square has fallen victim to Dutch Elm disease.

At the behest of the city arborist, work crews cut down the largest of Franklin Square’s three remaining elms recently. The nearly two century old tree had been ravaged by Dutch Elm disease, a highly contagious fungus spread by beetles that has decimated the city’s elm population. While the tree’s removal was necessary to prevent the spread of disease, park caretakers expressed sadness at the loss of a generations-old neighborhood landmark.

“We counted the rings, and this tree was 184 years old,” said Matt Mues of the Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association (BFSNA). “So, this tree dates back before the civil war.”

Indeed, the elm predates both Blackstone and Franklin Squares, created by the famed Charles Bullfinch in 1849 and 1855, respectively. Experts say it is likely the tree began growing elsewhere then was replanted in Franklin Square as part of the park’s original landscaping.