Big Elm Volunteer Fire Department

A landmark along Rt. 549 between Daggett and Mosherville for at least 150 years and probably more than two centuries, the huge tree has fallen prey to the kill that has claimed most of its kind in the Twin Tiers - the Dutch Elm Disease.

For better than a half centruy the tree grew almost aside Rt. 549 which runs north and south between Mansfield and the New York-Pennsylvania border. To save the big tree, road builders split the road with one lane going on the east side, the other on the west.

The road remained the same, gradually progressing from gravel to pavement until 1956 when the Pennsylvania State Highway Department moved the road 15 feet west of the tree.

At any rate, the relative straightness of the road indicated that it took little effort to route RT. 549 around instead of through it. At least two organizations have taken their names from the Big Elm. Richard Smith of Daggett, one of the original founders of the volunteer fire department of Daggett, said the destruction of his garage by fire was one of the reasons for the fire company's foundation.

Following church one Sunday he and two acquaintances pooled their cash and credit to buy a used $700 fire truck. The Big Elm Volunteer Fire Co. was born in April 1949.

For several years the tree was immunized against disease by the fire department. Using their pumper, fireman sprayed the tree. However, they lost interest when the wrong chemical was obtained one year, jamming the fire equipment.

Another group to derive its name from the tree is the Big Elm Rod and Gun Club. One of the last measurements taken revealed the the trunk was 18 feet in circumference.

Last Site Update: 03-07-2006
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