The new marker for the Council Oak Tree and Spring is unveiled at the rededication ceremony on June 16 at Arrowhead Campground.

Paul Fischer

    Members of the Nebraska Society Daughters of the American Revolution and guests gathered at Arrowhead Campground south of Goehner on the morning of June 16 to rededicate the Council Oak tree. A piece of the original tree trunk has been preserved by Dick Vaughn at Arrowhead.
     The event fell on the 75th anniversary of the original dedication.
     Members of the Seward County Historical Society, Sons of the American Revolution and Children of the American Revolution were also in attendance and spoke briefly.
     After an invocation and a reading of the American's Creed, NSDAR State Regent LeAnn Reichenberg welcome the gathers to the event.
     "I am so excited to be here today to rededicate the refurbished marker honoring Council Oak," she said.
     After greetings and introductions by Seward County Historical Society Chairman Dick Vaughn, SAR Omaha Chapter President Bob Knott and CAR Senior State President Laura Linder, NSDAR State Chairman of Commemorative Events Kathy Ocasio provided a detailed history of the Council Oak tree, originally read by Mary Vance Johnston at the original commemorative event on June 16, 1932.
     The tree, estimated to be more than 250 years old, was the meeting place of the Pawnee Indians when they held tribal councils with pioneers. Hence its name.
     On that day in 1932, the Crete Chapter of DAR dedicated a marker with a plaque to the Council Oak tree and spring where these legendary meetings were held.
     Then, on May 23, 1974, heavy rain loosened the tree from its soil and caused it to slide 10 feet down to the bottom of a creek.
     In 1977, the dying trunk was retreived by heavy machinery from Seward, and a large section was cut by Hughes Brothers of Seward. Pieces of the trunk were sent to different locations, including a detailed cross-section that resides in the Seward County Historical Museum.
     After the reading of the history, a poem from the original dedication ceremony was read and the new marker was revealed.
     The event was followed by refreshments at the Seward County Historical Museum and a short service by the new bur oak tree planted out in front of the museum.
     Then, DAR members and guests travelled to Seward North Cemetery to lay flowers at the grave of Susannah Loose Slonecker, daughter of George Loose, who fought in the American Revolution.
     Reichenberg rededicated the marker "in honor of the service of Susannah Loose Slonecker."