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Oak uprooted by Hurricane Katrina helps restore historic ship
http://tinyurl.com/88tpv
By Shelley K. Wong, Associated Press Writer | November 19, 2005
MYSTIC, Conn. --An 800-year-old live oak tree once stood prominently in front of Dr. Charles and Sandra Lobrano's home in Long Beach, Miss.
But that was before Katrina.
The Category 4 hurricane pummeled the Gulf Coast in August, taking more than a 1,200 lives and causing billions of dollars in damage in what the National Hurricane Center says may be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.
Nearly 10 percent of the live oaks along parts of the Mississippi coast were damaged -- including the Lobranos' prized oak, split in half by winds that reached 125 mph.
To save it from the chipper, the Lobranos decided to donate the fallen half of the 50-foot tree to a restoration effort of what's believed to be the world's last wooden whaling ship. The Charles W. Morgan, designated as a national historical landmark, is docked at Mystic Seaport in southeastern Connecticut.
Workers are using 170 live oak trees uprooted by Katrina in four Mississippi coastal cities to restore the 164-year-old ship. The oak lumber acquired in Mississippi will be used to rebuild part of the frame, backbone and the stern and stem posts.
Live oak is the preferred source for a ship's framework timbers because of its strength, density and resistance to decay, said Quentin Snediker, shipyard director of Mystic Seaport. It also has a natural curve, similar to the curves of a ship's structure.
The USS Constitution in Boston was constructed from live oak wood.
"Live oak was so important to national defense, it became the first species to be protected by the federal government," he said.
An estimated 200 of the 2,000 live oaks along the coast in the cities of Biloxi, Pass Christian, Long Beach and Gulfport were uprooted in the storm, according to Brion Capo, independent urban forest consultant of Gulfport. He said he's seen people return home to "find a sign on the tree that says 'Please save this for the Mystic Seaport,' and they cry because something good is going to come out of it. It's touching."
Sandra Lobrano said her family's tree was a cherished, living relic that existed long before the couple moved to their Long Beach home, 25 years ago.
"There's a lot of stories about the live oaks on the coast," she said. "They're just special trees."
Snediker said he was surprised when the Lobranos called to donate their tree. Most of the trees on the couple's 40-acre property were destroyed.
"It's a very meaningful gift on their part," Snediker said.
It is not the first time Mystic Seaport has used wood salvaged from areas ravaged by a hurricane. The museum also saved fallen live oak trees from areas damaged by hurricanes Hugo and Ivan. The wood from Hugo was used to help rebuild the schooner Amistad and the Sabino steamer, Snediker said. Lumber from Hurricane Ivan is being saved for the Morgan.
About 50 tons of live oak is already at Mystic Seaport for the restoration project, which is set for the spring of 2007. More wood from Mississippi is scheduled to arrive at the Seaport in the next few weeks.
Mystic Seaport will need 200 tons of finished oak for the ship's $3.5 million restoration project, Snediker said. Work on the 113-foot-long ship is expected to take about three years to complete.
Snediker is working with town officials in Mississippi and contractors in the planning process for the removal of the remaining live oak trees.
"I think it's a good idea," said Carol Hulett, a newspaper employee visiting Mystic Seaport from Salem Oregon. "It's a wonderful way to use a resource."
------
On the Net:
http://www.mysticseaport.org
http://tinyurl.com/88tpv
By Shelley K. Wong, Associated Press Writer | November 19, 2005
MYSTIC, Conn. --An 800-year-old live oak tree once stood prominently in front of Dr. Charles and Sandra Lobrano's home in Long Beach, Miss.
But that was before Katrina.
The Category 4 hurricane pummeled the Gulf Coast in August, taking more than a 1,200 lives and causing billions of dollars in damage in what the National Hurricane Center says may be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.
Nearly 10 percent of the live oaks along parts of the Mississippi coast were damaged -- including the Lobranos' prized oak, split in half by winds that reached 125 mph.
To save it from the chipper, the Lobranos decided to donate the fallen half of the 50-foot tree to a restoration effort of what's believed to be the world's last wooden whaling ship. The Charles W. Morgan, designated as a national historical landmark, is docked at Mystic Seaport in southeastern Connecticut.
Workers are using 170 live oak trees uprooted by Katrina in four Mississippi coastal cities to restore the 164-year-old ship. The oak lumber acquired in Mississippi will be used to rebuild part of the frame, backbone and the stern and stem posts.
Live oak is the preferred source for a ship's framework timbers because of its strength, density and resistance to decay, said Quentin Snediker, shipyard director of Mystic Seaport. It also has a natural curve, similar to the curves of a ship's structure.
The USS Constitution in Boston was constructed from live oak wood.
"Live oak was so important to national defense, it became the first species to be protected by the federal government," he said.
An estimated 200 of the 2,000 live oaks along the coast in the cities of Biloxi, Pass Christian, Long Beach and Gulfport were uprooted in the storm, according to Brion Capo, independent urban forest consultant of Gulfport. He said he's seen people return home to "find a sign on the tree that says 'Please save this for the Mystic Seaport,' and they cry because something good is going to come out of it. It's touching."
Sandra Lobrano said her family's tree was a cherished, living relic that existed long before the couple moved to their Long Beach home, 25 years ago.
"There's a lot of stories about the live oaks on the coast," she said. "They're just special trees."
Snediker said he was surprised when the Lobranos called to donate their tree. Most of the trees on the couple's 40-acre property were destroyed.
"It's a very meaningful gift on their part," Snediker said.
It is not the first time Mystic Seaport has used wood salvaged from areas ravaged by a hurricane. The museum also saved fallen live oak trees from areas damaged by hurricanes Hugo and Ivan. The wood from Hugo was used to help rebuild the schooner Amistad and the Sabino steamer, Snediker said. Lumber from Hurricane Ivan is being saved for the Morgan.
About 50 tons of live oak is already at Mystic Seaport for the restoration project, which is set for the spring of 2007. More wood from Mississippi is scheduled to arrive at the Seaport in the next few weeks.
Mystic Seaport will need 200 tons of finished oak for the ship's $3.5 million restoration project, Snediker said. Work on the 113-foot-long ship is expected to take about three years to complete.
Snediker is working with town officials in Mississippi and contractors in the planning process for the removal of the remaining live oak trees.
"I think it's a good idea," said Carol Hulett, a newspaper employee visiting Mystic Seaport from Salem Oregon. "It's a wonderful way to use a resource."
------
On the Net:
http://www.mysticseaport.org
