Centenarian Tree Removed from Pikesville Armory

A tree that has stood watch over Pikesville since about 1912 was being removed from the Pikesville Armory property on Tuesday.

It was felled by the Derecho storm last summer and was about 100 years old, said Sgt. Maj. Charles Frick, armory manager.

"The grove is gone, so the trees are unprotected," he said Tuesday as workers from A-1 Tree sawed through the nearly 4-foot-diameter trunk. Branches had been removed earlier.

That's why trees are falling more frequently on the property, he said.

This particular tree had fallen toward Reisterstown Road, not damaging any structures, Frick said. Another tree—although only 1/3 as large—was also lost during that same storm.

Frick said he can tell when trees are about to go: The ground swells near the base of the trunk, and mushrooms begin growing around it.

Each tree on armory property is numbered, and has a brass plate with that number affixed to it, he said.