WHQR: The Old Oak Will Come Down (2009-07-02)

Local Interest

The Old Oak Will Come Down

Catherine M. Welch (2009-07-02)

Charles Joyce Jr. sat in the old oak tree for nearly a week, now the tree will come down.

WILMINGTON, NC (whqr) - The New Hanover County Airport Authority refused Charles Joyce's plea to save the old oak tree in his front yard.

At a meeting last night, Joyce's family and their attorney begged the authority to trim and not chop down the tree. But without any negotiation, the authority referred to the contract Joyce signed giving them the right to chop down the estimated 150-year-old tree.

Before meeting with the airport, Joyce's attorney Michael Davenport said trimming the tree would probably kill it, but it's worth one last try.

"I guess my client is a romantic and I'll champion him and carry his banner for that any day. And if it's going to die being topped, he's going to care for it and let it die with him."

The authority agreed to leave the tree alone until Monday, and says it will likely come down next week. Joyce's son spent nearly a week perched in the old oak trying to save it.

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