Great-grandfather planted tree at school site

Editor:

I was very pleased to see the picture of Columbia County School Superintendent Tommy Price standing next to the old tree on Hereford Farm Road (from editorial, Protect Columbia Countys trees, Jan. 23).

The tree, as its known in the family, was planted by my great-grandfather, Ellis Lewis, in the early 1870s, when he was a young man. He found an acorn in the woods, brought it home, dug a hole in the garden with his finger and dropped the acorn in.

We grandchildren and great-grands have had many happy hours playing around the tree and as long as Ellis lived, he gave a barbecue each June to celebrate his birthday. He lived to be 86 years old.

Im sorry to know that the old house wont be saved, but am glad that a school will be built on the property. Ellis wife, Lou Norris Lewis, was an advocate of education, seeing that their four sons received as much education as possible so they would not have to work as hard as their father did on the farm.

Thanks to Columbia County and the Board of Education for saving the tree for future generations of Columbia County residents to enjoy.

Lou Ann Penland

Martinez