Historic ‘Door Tree’ in Hamden destroyed

The “Door Tree” in Hamden’s Mount Carmel woods after being vandalized. The “Door Tree” in Hamden’s Mount Carmel woods after being vandalized. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Historic ‘Door Tree’ in Hamden destroyed 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

HAMDEN — Vandals have destroyed a natural phenomenon in Hamden’s woods that had become an iconic landmark.

The “Door Tree,” named because one tree growing into another had made a doorway-like arch, was found Wednesday cut up and destroyed, according to the executive board of the Hamden Historical Society.

A supporter of the society contacted a board member Wednesday because they were concerned they couldn’t find the tree, the release said. When the board member went to visit the tree hours later, they found “the 150-year-old tree had been knocked down and cut into pieces with a chainsaw,” according to the release.

The society’s board doesn’t know exactly when the damage occurred.

“For many years it has been feared the tree would be the target of vandalism due to its remote location, in a small valley about fifty feet off New Road near Clark’s Pond,” the board said.

The Police Department and Regional Water Authority, which owns the land where the tree stood, have been notified and Mayor Curt B. Leng “expressed shock and anger when notified earlier today of the tree’s destruction,” the board said.

“Ted Norris, vice president of RWA Asset Management, has assured the historical society that RWA police, who work hand in hand with Hamden police, will investigate the destruction of the landmark and will aggressively seek to identify and prosecute those responsible,” the release said.

The tree was featured several times in Ripley’s “Believe it or Not,” and in Rachel Hartley’s “The History of Hamden Connecticut -1786-1959.”

“It had been recognized by locals as a prominent Mount Carmel landmark ever since it was first photographed around 1898,” the board said.

A $1,000 reward will be offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the destruction of the Door Tree, according to the release.