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The removal of the Burrell Elm was hard on many community members, but thanks to partners, its impact will continue long after the last leaf fell.
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This story was originally published on the Oregon Historical Society's blog, Dear Oregon
Portland's Heritage Trees are trees that have been formally recognized for their size, age, or historical or horticultural significance. They are protected by city code and designated with a small plaque so they can be identified and enjoyed by the public. With over 300 Heritage Trees throughout Portland — and new trees added each year — Portland has one of the most extensive tree landmarking programs in the country. The first tree landmarked in Portland was an American elm (1973), which eventually became Heritage Tree #1, also known as the Burrell Elm.
For more than 130 years, this tree stood as a quiet witness to Portland's growth. Visitors have admired its majestic height and spread. Families have gathered in its shade. Neighbors have measured the seasons by the color of its leaves and enjoyed the unique character it added to their neighborhood. It was, in every meaningful sense, a member of this community.
In summer 2024, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Urban Forestry arborists delivered an assessment that Heritage Tree #1 had entered irreversible decline with significant loss of canopy and risk of future branch failures; it was news no one wanted to hear. When a beloved tree reaches the end of its life, the decision to remove it is never taken lightly. It became clear, however, that Heritage Tree #1 needed to be removed for safety reasons. The decision was difficult to make, but its legacy will continue for generations as hand-crafted benches at Portland community centers. A half-round cross-section will also be preserved and cared for at the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) as part of its museum collection.
City Forester and Urban Forestry Manager Jenn Cairo reflected on the decision: "Letting go of a tree this important is never easy, but honoring it is an act of love. It is heartwarming to see the tree's legacy preserved at our community centers and in the Oregon Historical Society."
The Life of the Burrell Elm (Portland Heritage Tree #1)
Heritage Tree #1 began its life in the garden of Rosetta (Rosa) Frazer Burrell, planted around 1870 on the grounds of the Burrell family home. At the time, the property sat on the edge of Portland, a nineteenth-century suburb where the garden extended from the side of the house on Southwest 10th Avenue into what would become Southwest Madison Street.
Burrell was a woman of quiet determination and outsized influence in the community. An active member of the First Unitarian Church and the League of Women Voters, she moved through Portland's civic life with purpose and generosity. In 1887, she was instrumental in founding the Portland Women's Union, and when the organization needed a home for single mothers, Burrell donated $10,000 of her own money to build the Martha Washington Hotel, a boarding house that also provided educational training to the women who lived there. At a time when such investment in women's welfare was rare, Burrell made it a priority.
As the decades passed, Portland grew around the Burrell property. The gardens, greenhouses, and stables were cleared for apartments, sidewalks, and streets. Over 100 years, the family's suburban estate was absorbed into the expanding downtown core.
By 1973, only one trace of the Burrell era remained: the elm tree, still standing where Burrell's garden had once bloomed. That year, a member of OHS asked a simple but visionary question: if Portland could landmark historic buildings, why not a historic tree? By 1975, the city's Historical Landmarks Commission agreed, designating the Burrell Elm as Portland's first landmark tree. When the city established its Heritage Tree Ordinance in 1993, it was only fitting that this elm became Heritage Tree #1, first on the list, and legally protected ever since.
A Slow Farewell
Heritage Tree #1 did not decline overnight; the signs accumulated gradually. A major branch fell during a storm in 2017 that reduced canopy and created a large wound. A 2024 winter storm reduced canopy even further, and led to the loss of two major branches. City arborists with PP&R's Urban Forestry division monitored its health carefully over the spring and summer, exploring every option that might extend its life. Unfortunately, the tree's spring canopy was composed of undersized and discolored leaves, indicating tree stress. By July 2024, another large branch failure occurred, and almost half the canopy was gone.
Soil treatments, structural supports, and targeted pruning were all considered, but trees, like people, reach a point where intervention can only do so much. After the last major limb drop in 2024, the safety risks to the surrounding sidewalk, street, and its visitors had become undeniable. In August 2024, PP&R Urban Forestry staff removed the tree with the care and respect that such a landmark deserved. They documented the process thoroughly, mourned quietly, and planned how to honor the tree's next chapter.
From Tree to Treasure
The story of a tree of this significance does not simply end. From the moment Heritage Tree #1 came down, the focus turned to what it could become. Thanks to the contributions of PP&R's partners, this incredible tree and its memory will be preserved. Rescued Oregon Timber, a local sawyer and city partner, milled two large logs from the main trunk into approximately 2,000 board feet of usable lumber. The boards then traveled to North Plains, Oregon, where Oregon Canadian Forest Products kiln-dried the wood, a process that draws out moisture and stabilizes fresh lumber for long-term use. In a generous act of community service, Oregon Canadian Forest Products provided this work at no cost as an in-kind donation.
The dried boards have since returned to Portland, where Urban Forestry staff and PP&R carpenters are now collaborating to bring the wood to life in projects that city residents can enjoy.
PP&R carpenters are handcrafting benches from the salvaged lumber of Heritage Tree #1's main trunk, which will be installed at Portland community centers where neighbors will gather for generations to come. The first bench was presented to PP&R's Mt. Scott Community Center on April 11, 2026, during Urban Forestry's annual Tree Summit. And in addition to the benches, a 43-inch half-round cross-section of the trunk was donated to OHS, which serves as a permanent record of the tree's rings, its age, and its place in Portland's story. Urban Forestry staff presented the cross-section to OHS during the Tree Summit event highlighting the Burrell Elm's life, history, and importance as the first Heritage Tree.
OHS's Museum Director Nicole Yasuhara described the donation as an honor for "OHS to steward a small piece of Portland's first Heritage Tree as part of the museum collection. The half-round cross-section is more than a piece of wood: it carries history and significance; it inspires us to enjoy and protect the flora and fauna that are a part of our community environment; and it is a testament to the hard work and thoughtful dedication of Portland Parks & Recreation staff."
In the months ahead, more community center benches will be created and distributed. Urban Forestry will share updates in the PP&R Urban Forestry bi-monthly Tree Bark newsletter. Everyone is encouraged to experience these pieces in person — and to carry the memory of the Burrell Elm with you, along with its ability to endure, transform, and live on in new ways.
For readers interested in learning more about the history of Heritage Trees in the city, Catherine McNeur's Heritage Trees of Portland entry in The Oregon Encyclopedia provides a great overview. For those interested in learning more about or nominating a tree for the Heritage Tree program, visit our Heritage Trees webpage.