The Great Oak in 1994
In 1926, the Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin of Bruton Parish Church showed Bassett Hall to visiting philanthropist and Standard Oil heir John D. Rockefeller Jr. Goodwin wanted to persuade Rockefeller of the value of restoring Colonial Williamsburg.
Of particular interest to Rockefeller was the Great Oak, a huge old tree that was already in its eighth decade when the Stamp Act Crisis rocked the colonies. Rockefeller said, “It is a place to sit in silence and let the past speak to us.”
The “new” Great Oak
The Rockefellers purchased Bassett Hall and enjoyed long walks along woodland paths, boating on the property’s small pond, and sitting beneath the canopy of the Great Oak during their twice-yearly visits to Williamsburg.
The Great Oak was a landmark of the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area. A memorial for Mr. Rockefeller was held under the Great Oak June 9, 1960. Employees gathered in its shelter to remember coworkers who passed.
The majestic old tree was severely damaged during an ice storm on Dec. 24, 1998, and eventually was lost. Today a memorial marks the place where the Great Oak stood. Right next to it, a seedling of the original tree has been planted — ready to become the “new” Great Oak.
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[brightcove videoID=3738019619001 playerID=2893748186001 height=315 width=560]
Watch Williamsburg Before and After
Ralph Erickson says
A remarkable film which provides the novice with a profound understanding of what Williamsburg was like before restoration took place. I found the film to be high informative and entertaining g.