One of my favorite places at uncle Earl’s house was the Oak tree.  It was no ordinary oak tree.  It was huge, even in the nineteen forties when I was very small.  Writing this in 2021, it seems almost dreamlike, those days of tree climbing, over seventy years ago.  The tree had two fairly low limbs that grew out southward, toward the house. They had growth together to form a nice sized platform, about eight feet above the ground.  It was a perfect nature made treehouse!

The tree is located at the end of what is now named Segrest Lane, and marked the place where, coming from the “big road,” we turned right to go to the Little House where I was born.  

The picture shown above was taken southeast of the tree, so Segrest Lane is to the right, and the lane to the Little House is to the left. The “natural” tree house is on this side of the tree.

The tree has a story.  The story is that it grew from a sprout on a stump.  The tree that preceded it had been cut down, but, as often happens, grew sprouts from buds.  My great-grandfather removed all the sprouts but one—and that one is now the tree!  And quite a tree it became.

Here is Uncle Earl and the tree.  The “tree house” is composed of the limbs to the right.  At one time it was considered the largest black oak tree in Alabama! 

Uncle Earl sold many watermelons (and other vegetables) from beneath this tree.  Thousands of watermelons enjoyed its shade!