In a preemptive move, the Town Arborist cut down the Parkhurst Elm on August 19
(Dartbeat blog post, Valley News blurb, Alumni Relations note).

The old tree (photo, info from College Arborist, article in Parents News) was notable not only for its magnificence and prominence but for its siting, since its roots and trunk encroached on North Main Street:

The Rauner Blog has a post on the practice of saving pieces from an old tree.

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[Update 05.11.2013: Broken link to Parents News article removed.]
[Update 01.13.2013: Broken link to Dartbeat removed.]
[Update 11.17.2012: Broken link to Rauner Blog fixed.]