Should Columbus' "Hanging Tree" be cut down?

This beautiful, majestic, tree had no control over what happened in the past. The people of many years ago did. Why should the tree suffer the rath of the people of today? The past needs to be remembered so nothing like that will ever happen again! It is a sad part of the past history in Columbus, but as many times as I have been through this wonderful town, did I know of the trees history. What a shame to cut it down just so the past can be forgotten.

Do these fuzzy feel good people think the past will go away if the tree is cut down?

I didn't feel this tree should be bulldozed. It is a part of history that cannot be changed.
The writer of this story needs to research this story more because the readers haven't gotten the full story. Those 2 men were close relatives of mine and they were innocent...a white man confessed that he committed this crime on his deathbed.
Please tell to whole story.

I have heard the stories about this tree as I was growing up.Each time I would drive by,I never thought about the past but what a great tree it is. I think this wonderful old tree should contintue to grow. The past will be their forever even if the tree was taken down.

Why is D.Jones asking someone to tell the story.
Why doesnt he tell it. I guess it doesnt really matter anyway. I mean if the town can build roads around trees then leave the tree alone. Are we as a society suppose to make a momument or holiday for each offense to someone of color. If thats the case our government would be broke. I grew up in Mississippi and I'm sure there are alot of trees that fell and never made a sound. Get over it.
Its not the tree but the criminal who used it.

Why should it be cut down? Just because one or two get offended.

my family was hung on that tree. It symbolizes to me that the tree stands firm on the belief things changes and they have. Why destroy something just that tree. In my opioion i feel we should cut down every tree if that is the case.

Leave the tree, Benny Mitchell, Jr is my uncle. I have told my kids the history and we have visted the tree. I got chills when I stood next to the tree. My dad told me the real story and it should be told. The truth should not be hidden and the tree is part of it. It's true it's not the tree fault that my uncle died a horrible death. Let the tree live, remember the past don't hide the past.

There's not reason to cut down this beautiful tree. The tree didn't do those things, the people did. Besides the fact that good or bad, the tree is a very large part of the history of this town.

kkk outfits didnt hurt people either so why dont they hang them sheets on the tree we can, tell everyone it was the people in those sheets that did it,cut it down

I spent many of my childhood years in Eagle Lake and Columbus and would be absolutely devastated if this tree were to be cut down. It is such a historical marker! I now live in Michigan, but come home to Texas on vacations and always look forward to taking my children there to see this. I was born in Eagle Lake and have family and friends still there and in Columbus. Everyone I have talked to there are in agreeance in that, this is our history...leave it alone!!! Is it hurting anything? Absolutely not.

hey elizbeth wrote:

kkk outfits didnt hurt people either so why dont they hang them sheets on the tree we can, tell everyone it was the people in those sheets that did it,cut it down

"KKK outfits" are created with their purpose in mind. The tree is just a tree. That is an "apples & oranges" comparison. If anything, the tree should stand as a reminder of what can happen when we shirk our duty as reasonable human beings.

The hanging tree is an absolutely gorgeous old oak ! Leave it for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. I own land on FM 109 and am awed by its beauty each time I drive past. My husband is a Texas historian and has written about the hanging tree in one of his books - Historic Towns of Texas - Volume II - Columbus, Gonzales, Jefferson. You cannot change history, so let the hanging tree remain to remind us of a part of Columbus' historic past.

I grew up in Columbus. I never heard the story of what happened there until I moved away. For me and most of the people that I spent time with in my youth, it was only a landmark. People would talk about how big it was and the fact that it is in the middle of the road, but no one ever discussed the history. I should be left alone to continue to serve as a gateway from the past to the future.

no because were going to hang some kkk

D Jones wrote:

I didn't feel this tree should be bulldozed. It is a part of history that cannot be changed.
The writer of this story needs to research this story more because the readers haven't gotten the full story. Those 2 men were close relatives of mine and they were innocent...a white man confessed that he committed this crime on his deathbed.
Please tell to whole story.

yes I do agree with you. They need to know the whole story
my family told me about that story and its is awful.Those boys were innocent and that tree is a
reminder every time I go through Columbus.

My family told me about the 2 young men who got
hung by that tree. It is a constant reminder every
time I go through Columbus. My grandmother who is know deceased told me about what happen I cried it
was that awful. If everyone knew the whole story they will have a different opinion.

Kathy Hastedt Davis wrote:

The hanging tree is an absolutely gorgeous old oak ! Leave it for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. I own land on FM 109 and am awed by its beauty each time I drive past. My husband is a Texas historian and has written about the hanging tree in one of his books - Historic Towns of Texas - Volume II - Columbus, Gonzales, Jefferson. You cannot change history, so let the hanging tree remain to remind us of a part of Columbus' historic past.

So I guess your family was part of the
hanging

Charlette Glover Robinson, I was just curious about what you said about how people need to know the whole story. What are the facts about this event? What have you heard about this story?

it is goin to stay so we can remember the past
columbus, texas