What's With the Trees in the Street?

Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our column.

This week we had a local resident write in with a question about an old tree that is growing in front of .

They asked: What's the story with the tree in the road on Maverick Street? Why hasn't that thing been cut down already?

According to Doug Gordon, Marblehead's Tree Warden, the tree growing out into Maverick Street has been growing there for decades and should be coming down soon.

Gordon said he didn't know why the tree has remained in the street for so long and a call to a former tree warden, he said, didn't turn up any new information.

"I know that tree has been there a long, long time," Gordon said. "It's in pretty rough shape and it will have to come down soon."

Gordon said he remembered when a local resident's appeal to have something done about a tree on Maverick Street failed after he received an adverse response from the community.

"Someone wrote into The Reporter and complained because they backed into a tree on that street and asked local residents to write in if they had any other complaints," Gordon said. "The guy got blasted by people who said he should have known it was there and we never heard from him again."

In addition to the tree's old age, Gordon said its close proximity to the library's chimney is another reason why it will have to come down.

"I only have four guys, so I have to prioritize," Gordon said. "I know that tree is not in the best of shape."

The tree on Maverick Street isn't the only one in town that is way out in the street, Gordon said, pointing out a large chestnut growing on Commercial Street.

"It's funny, you look at it and you go 'why?' when you see it," Gordon said. "It's bizarre but it has just been like that."

Do you know of any other trees growing out into the street in Marblehead? Think these trees should be removed? Let us know in the comments section.

If you have a question for us, not matter how strange it may seem, let us know and we'll try to find the answers.