"I Wish Upon a Tree" - The tale of the County's magical landmark
Long ago, in the heart of Prince Edward County, a grand and towering maple tree stood as a testament to time and dreams. This massive tree, known as the Wishing Tree, held secrets of wishes and whispers from generations past. While the tree's story unfolded before my birth, its enchanting history has been passed down through the voices of my parents and grandparents, a tale brimming with magic and community.
Legend had it that the Wishing Tree was not just any tree — it was a colossal wonder, the largest maple tree in existence east of the Rocky Mountains. Stretching more than 160 feet toward the sky, with a girth of 18 feet, it stood as an awe-inspiring testament to nature's grandeur.
The tree's legacy as a wishing tree began centuries ago when the Indigenous people of the region saw it as more than just a tree. It was a sacred meeting place, a trading hub, and a space of tranquility. Under its leafy canopy, elders convened, and tribes gathered to share stories and wisdom. As the elders conversed, the children would pluck pieces of bark from the ground and send them fluttering into the branches above. If a piece caught onto a branch, it was believed that the wish whispered by the thrower would be heard and granted.
With the arrival of European settlers, the enchantment of the Wishing Tree spread to new hearts. Families ventured to the tree for picnics, bonding amid its natural splendour. Couples in love made their way to the tree's shade, entrusting their whispered dreams to its ancient branches. As the region flourished, a pathway was carved around the tree, and in 1837, the "Wishing Tree Lodge" was erected nearby, echoing the tree's allure.
In the early 1900s, the dawn of the automobile age brought tourists from afar, drawn to the mystique of the Wishing Tree. Each visitor sought to capture a piece of its magic, posing beside its towering presence for photographs to treasure. Yet, the tree's popularity proved bittersweet. The constant stream of traffic took a toll on the very roots that had anchored it for centuries.
In 1925, nature's fury struck in the form of lightning, leaving scars on the Wishing Tree's proud frame. Valiant efforts were made to save the ailing tree, pruning away the damaged branches, but time had begun to take its toll. By the early 1940s, the Wishing Tree succumbed to its inevitable fate.
In reverence to its memory, the tree's rings were counted as it lay on the ground, revealing its astonishing age of 731 years. From a sapling that first took root around 1200 AD, the Wishing Tree had witnessed centuries of dreams and hopes. Yet, its own popularity had hastened its decline, a poignant paradox of its legacy.
Today, the Wishing Tree's physical presence has vanished, lost to the currents of time. The lodge that stood as its companion remains, transformed into a private abode. Perhaps the smaller maples that now dot the landscape are descendants of this once-mighty giant. Our memories of the Wishing Tree persist only through aged photographs and the echoes of local lore.
Have you, too, heard whispers of the Wishing Tree's magic? Share your tales in the comments, and let us keep its spirit alive in our shared stories.