With one act of vandalism, a piece of Hamden history is gone. Someone chopped down a 150-year-old tree that was a landmark in town.

“It's gone. It's gone forever,” said David Johnson, Hamden’s municipal historian.

Nature lovers in Hamden referred to the tree off New Road as the door tree.

“It was unique...it was apparently two trees that one grew into another and formed an arch, a doorway like arch,” Johnson explained.

The tree was discovered sawed apart yesterday with garbage littered at its base, leading Johnson to believe it was the work of vandals.

He was heartbroken when he got the call from a friend who couldn’t find the tree when he came to see it Wednesday.

“It just sickened me to see that,” Johnson said.

The tree stood in the woods since at least the 1800s. The land it sits on is owned by the Regional Water Authority, which, alongside Hamden Police, is actively searching for whoever did this.

"This land should be protected and enjoyed for generations," said Dan Doyle of the Regional Water Authority. "It’s really tragic that it has been taken from the town of Hamden and from the community so it can’t be enjoyed for future generations."

With one act of vandalism, a piece of Hamden history is gone.

The Hamden Historical Society has raised a $1,000 reward for anyone who comes forward with information that leads police to whoever cut down the tree. The Regional Water Authoritiy is also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or people responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Regional Water Authority at 203-562-4020.