News Post

For two centuries, atop the hill where McNabb Field and the tennis courts now sit, one tree has towered over all the rest – the Jefferson tree, also known as the Jefferson pecan. Once included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s list of famous trees, the Jefferson tree stood stately, strong, shading the sidelines of field hockey and lacrosse games, witnessing hundreds of young women of faith, vision, and purpose graduate beneath the tent. 

The Jefferson tree received its moniker from its bestower – President Thomas Jefferson. In the early 1800s, the land where the majestic pecan tree was planted belonged to the Threlkeld estate, next to the then-recently established Convent of the Visitation and its ladies’ academy. John Threlkeld, mayor of Georgetown, had offered Jefferson peach trees for Monticello; Jefferson wrote a letter to Threlkeld in response in March 1807, saying, “Presuming you are attached to the culture of trees, I take the liberty of sending you some Pecan nuts, which being of the last year’s growth received from New Orleans, will probably grow.” And indeed, for more than 200 years, they did. Threlkeld’s land, including his farmland and the orchard with the Jefferson tree, became part of Georgetown Visitation’s campus in the mid-19th century through its sale to the Sisters by Threlkeld’s descendants. 

The orchard slowly dwindled to three trees, then two in 1973, and finally, one in 1990, according to the Alumnae Notes of that same year. This one tree still stood, weathering hurricanes, windstorms, brutal ice and snow. The storms of the night of Thursday, September 3, finally proved too much for the Jefferson tree.

The field hockey team discovered the downed tree on the morning of September 4, arriving for an early practice on McNabb Field. It was fitting that the tree had stood on the sidelines of McNabb, named for Sister Mary de Sales McNabb, VHM, who had watched over the tree – once referred to as one of our oldest community members – as lovingly as she did her students and beloved Cubs who played on the field.  

Athletic Director Mary Veith ‘05 said, “It was a real blow because it is such an iconic Visitation landmark, and I guess I just always thought it would be there. It was a reminder of how quickly things can change or be taken, and not to take any of this beautiful campus or community for granted.”

Before the fallen tree was removed from campus, AP Environmental Science classes paid it a final visit and farewell. 

“This was a unique opportunity for students not only because of the significance of the tree being grown from seeds from Thomas Jefferson, but also because we could look at the unique characteristics of the tree including the parts of the inner and outer bark, the types of leaves and seeds it might have, as well as develop hypothesis for why the tree may have fallen,” said teacher Hannah O’Connor. “There was evidence (that the students got to touch and learn about) of an internal decay to the tree, as well as surrounding threats that may have caused its slow decline such as development, climate change leading to potential insects and disease, and drainage issues in the soil. The way the tree fell provided us an interesting view of its roots and soil, which led to further discussions and hands-on learning surrounding soil properties with clay and other particles.”

“It was really cool to be able to see things that we normally would not be able to see with the naked eye, like the different colors and layers of dirt, frass, decay, and the tree’s growth rings. Looking at the rings especially made the age of the tree feel much more real because we could actually see evidence of everything that had happened throughout its life,” said Ava L. ‘27, who noted that more than just one storm contributed to the tree’s loss. 

“It was also pretty insane to think about the history that this one tree had existed through. It predates the abolition of slavery, segregation and Jim Crow laws, women gaining the right to vote, and so many other events that we tend to think of as being extremely far in the past. In reality, those events are not that far removed from us at all when you think about the lifespan of a tree,” noted Ava, who shared that seeing the tree was “honestly really sad and strange because it was something that felt permanent. For generations of students, it had just always been there, so it was weird to suddenly see it on the ground and realize that it wouldn't be part of campus in the same way anymore.” 

While the original Jefferson tree may no longer stand up the hill, two direct descendants live in the northern corner of the field. Two saplings propagated from its branches during the McNabb Field turf renovation in 2014 grow nearby, intended to extend the legacy of the Jefferson tree. 

“I hope that the loss of this tree provides a touchpoint for the Visi community to appreciate and reflect on the breadth and depth of Visitation's part in American history, women's history, and the history of education in the US,” said school archivist Genevieve Kocienda. “As an archivist, the loss of the tree emphasizes the importance of preserving all the items in our archive so that no part of our long history is forgotten."

Ava added, “It made me think about how much history a tree can hold even though we usually just walk past it without thinking about it.”