MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND. S.C. -- Live oak trees can be seen over much of Parris Island. They line many of the Depot's streets, and for years, nine of them stood guard in front of the Depot's Branch Medical Clinic.
However, those trees were removed in June to make way for the new medical facility. But, they were removed in such a way as to preserve the wood so it can live on in another aspect - as the hull for an old whaling ship, called the Charles W. Morgan.
The ship is currently docked at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn., and will undergo restoration in late 2006.
"Live oak was considered the most valuable ship timber in North America during the age of sail," said Quentin T. Snediker, director, Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport. "Many famous vessels were constructed of live oak because of its strength, resistance to decay and the natural shapes in the trees growth patterns which in many cases are the same as those curves required for ship frames and other elements of wooden ship construction."
According to the online encyclopedia, en.wikipedia.org, the USS Constitution was constructed from Southern live oak wood harvested from St. Simons Island, Georgia, and the density of the wood grain allowed it to survive cannonade.
It reportedly received its nickname, "Old Ironsides," because its live oak hull was so tough that cannon balls bounced off it. The USS Constitution was completely restored in the early 90's, and live oak was the material of choice in keeping with historical precedent, according to www.americanforests.org.
Wanting to retain that history, the personnel at Mystic Seaport have been working with various private landowners, developers and the South Carolina Department of Transportation since Hurricane Hugo salvaging live oak for various projects.
"The trees from Parris Island will be put aside and saved for the reconstruction of the 1841 wooden whaling bark Charles W. Morgan," said Snediker. "This vessel will be hauled for major restoration in late 2006. Most of the trees from Parris Island will be used for frames below the waterline.
"The Morgan is a national historic landmark built as a whaling bark in 1841. Today, she is the central artifact in Mystic Seaports collection of over 500 watercraft."
That historical significance lends heartily to the importance of the mission of restoring the once great whaler.
"Though these trees had to be cut, they will now in a sense live on in perpetuity as a part of living history aboard the Charles W. Morgan," said Ron Kinlaw, Natural Resources Conservation, law enforcement officer, who initiated the possible use of the trees by spreading the word of their removal and contacting the personnel at the museum.
"While it is a shame magnificent tress must occasionally come down or be blown down in storms, incorporating them in historic ship preservation gives them a new life in preserving our national heritage," said Snediker. "It also helps create awareness of conservation issues encouraging saving trees when we can, but when it is simply impossible to do so, their use in important national treasures is somewhat comforting knowing this valuable resource will not be wasted."
Snediker feels that the museum has been fortunate with their ongoing relationship with the South Carolina Department of Transportation since Hurricane Hugo wreaked havoc on the Lowcountry area.
"We generally average about two truck loads every two years either from the Department of Transportation or private landowners from the Beaufort County area," said Snediker. "Last year, we got three truck loads from Pensacola, [Fla.] from trees damaged by hurricane Ivan. The Morgan restoration project promises to be a big job, so we will need to make many new contacts over the next few months to supply enough wood for the Morgan's need."
Thanks in part to the efforts of the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Hightower Construction, Parris Island's Natural Resources personnel and the efforts of the Mystic Seaport Museum, yet another piece of our nations past shall live on to tell it's tale for generations to come.
For more information on the restoration and an in depth look at the history of the Charles W. Morgan visit, www.mysticseaport.org.