h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In my youth, 60 years ago give or take, I lived on the remnants of my father's farm, Avondale, in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. By that time most of the farm had been sold off and developed. However, beside a creek grew a massive Ash tree. Some years later Penn State Univ. conducted a study of old trees in PA. and determined that to be the 3rd oldest known tree in the State. It was over 400 years old at that point. Its trunk was huge but, above the 10 foot mark was a hollow in which I and my friends often played. The hollow was large enough to accompany 5 children and we enjoyed many parties there. The hollow was surrounded by, perhaps, 5 large branches that went toward the sky. They were evidence that the tree had often been partially harvested for firewood. In those far off days people who saw the tree remarked that it likely had been there when Columbus discovered America. They were not far off! To my knowledge the tree remains there. I last saw it in 1995. Penn State records could probably provide more information on that tree. The farm was bordered on one side by what was labeled as being an old Indian path. It was an interesting place!