Like most big or old trees in Wilmington, NC, the “Sonic Oak” was cut down. This was a huge live oak with a lush canopy towering above Market Street. It was probably around 7 feet wide. NCDOT cut it down this time. Now Market Street / Route 17 past downtown is the ugliest street in the nation. Gone are the oaks (and pines) down Kerr as well. We could have columns of verdant oaks all along these stretches – remarkable beauty that would cool and clean our air, but we choose not to.
The Sonic Oak before and after (March 2015):
Sonic Oak before and after being cut down in March 2015. Top picture by Bill Jayne of Wilmington Tree Commission.
During:
Sonic Oak in the process of being cut down
Sonic Oak trunk left standing
Memories:
Sonic Oak
Sonic Oak
Sonic Oak
Sonic Oak