Hamilton's Sweet Gum Trees

Since the earliest recorded memories of The Grange, a cluster of thirteen sweet gum trees has been associated with the house. Until 1889, the window of the study looked out upon these trees. In early illustrations of The Grange, and later, photographs, the sweet gum grove is an easily identifiable landmark, just steps from the front door of The Grange.

This is the earliest illustration of Hamilton Grange, showing the cluster of trees to the right of the house.

1858 George Hayward

To Be Cut Down or To Be Saved?

The origin of the thirteen trees has long been the subject of debate in local newspapers. While no letters or references by Hamilton survive about the trees, it has been a long-held tradition that they were planted by Hamilton. The earliest written reference to the trees appears in an 1872 edition of Appleton’s Journal, in which the trees are described as having been planted by Hamilton himself, and are said to represent each of the original thirteen colonies. The star-shaped leaves, it was noted, were particularly favorable to represent the colonies.

In the late 1880’s, the general vicinity of The Grange was being developed within the Manhattan street grid; nearby lots were subdivided, row houses constructed, and roads were paved. Destruction seemed imminent for The Grange, until the house was moved several hundred feet away on Convent Avenue. Although the house was moved, the thirteen trees remained in their original location.

This photograph, captured before The Grange's first move in 1889, shows the cluster of trees on the right side of the image.

In July of 1889, the first reference to saving the trees appeared in a New York Times newspaper. It summarized a meeting by the Washington Heights Taxpayers Association, called to consider what steps would be necessary to preserve the grove of trees as a city park. However, the mayoral administration of the city opposed the movement.

For the next 19 years, various individuals and organizations within the city either promoted the preservation of the trees, or called into question their authenticity.

This image, taken around 1900, shows the grove of trees surrounded by a picket fence, with The Grange at its Convent Avenue location next to St. Luke's Church.

Dubious Identity

In March of 1982, among a fierce debate for the use of land at The Grange’s old location, New York City citizen William Wood called the origin of the trees into question. In response to a recent philanthropic land purchase by O.B. Potter, Wood describes how he had entered into conversation with Alexander Hamilton’s son, John C. Hamilton, who informed him, “I am sorry to tell you that those trees were not planted by my father; they were there when he bought the place.” William Wood continued, “We sincerely hope that Mr. Potter’s usually keen judgement of the value of New York real estate was not disturbed in the bidding by the rush of patriotic associations connected with the trees that ‘were there when he bought the place’”.

Nonetheless, public declarations and calls to action for the preservation of the trees continued. An April of 1892 article in the Illustrated American notes, “In order to protect the trees from the attacks of relic hunters, they are being guarded, day and night, by police and private watchmen.”

This image, probably taken around 1905, show the cluster of trees as their health declines.

In 1897, Ferdinand P. Earle, a local of the area, presented a letter from Alexander Hamilton’s grandson, of the same name, who stated, “…My grandfather … brought the thirteen trees when little whips in his gig from Gen. Washington’s estate—Mount Vernon, Va. They are lime trees, and not native to this section of our country. I never knew my father, John C. Hamilton, to state the contrary.”

Although the claim of lime tree identity was corrected by a Columbia University professor within a year of the letter’s publication, the origin of the trees was thrown into deeper questioning. Amidst vocal public support for the trees, those in opposition continued to doubt their validity as patriotic icons. “But why,” wrote one anonymous critic, “he should have selected a species [from Mount Vernon] which already flourished in the vicinity of the Grange is, to say the least, surprising.”

For every critic of the trees, there was also a defender. However, by 1902, the trees were described in a New York Times article as “sad remnants”—only three trees in the cluster remained alive. “It is not likely that they will remain standing for any great length of time.”

Today’s Trees

On May 2^nd, 1908, the article “Hamilton’s Last Gum Tree” appeared in the New York Times. “The last of the famous thirteen trees stationed by Alexander Hamilton to guard his home … departed this life May 1, 1908,” it was written. “The deceased has been a resident of the Heights for over a century, being the oldest inhabitant of his neighborhood.”

At last, the thirteen gum trees which stirred so much emotion in the people of the neighborhood were gone.

Since 2008, volunteers have been planting a new grove of sweet gum trees on the Hamilton Grange property.

NPS Photo

Today, the tradition of the gum trees persists at Hamilton Grange National Memorial. Since The Grange’s second move and restoration in 2008, one hundred years after the last original tree fell, volunteers and staff at the Memorial have been caring for several sweet gum trees that have been planted just outside of Hamilton’s study. Each spring, the star-shaped leaves of the tree add welcome foliage to the grounds of St. Nicholas Park. Every fall, the leaves change to striking yellows and reds, providing a scenic and historical backdrop for Alexander Hamilton’s Grange.

Sources:
“Hamilton’s Trees.” New York Times. July 2, 1889.

“The ‘Hamilton’ Trees.” New York Times. March 24, 1892.

Earle, Ferdinand P. “Hamilton’s Thirteen Trees.” New York Times. January 14, 1897.

E.R.D. “Alexander Hamilton’s Trees.” New York Times. December 3, 1899.

Crane. F.W., “New York Historic Trees.” New York Times. May 4, 1902.

Place, Frank. “Hamilton’s Last Gum Tree.” New York Times. May 4, 1908.

“Hamilton’s Thirteen Trees.” The illustrated American. April 23, 1892.

“Hamilton Grange.” Appletons’ Journal of Literature, Science and Art. October 19, 1872.