There has been an arrest in the case of a 150-year-old tree in Hamden that was cut down last month, according to the Regional Water Authority.
Nature lovers in Hamden referred to the tree off New Road as the “Door Tree.”
“It was unique ... it was apparently two trees that one grew into another and formed an arch, a doorway like arch,” David Johnson, Hamden’s municipal historian, said during a prior interview.
The tree, which stood in the woods since at least the 1800s, was sawed apart in July. The land it sits on is owned by the Regional Water Authority, which, alongside Hamden Police, investigated to determine who was responsible. The news release from the Regional Water Authority says RWA police were able to identify the person responsible within 48 hours of launching the investigation.
“The vandalism of the Door Tree is a tragedy, but today we can be proud of the top-notch collaborative work done by the RWA, the Hamden Historical Society and others to resolve this senseless crime,” Larry Bingaman, president and CEO of the Regional Water Authority, said in a statement. “The RWA preserves and protects over 27,000 acres of watershed land in order to deliver the highest-quality water to our customers. That our environmentalists and Police Department were able to resolve this case in less than 48 hours is a testament to their excellent work, commitment to public safety, and the protection and stewardship of the environment.”
