The Superior Express -

More than 100 years ago, when picture post cards were popular, a company published a picture of a giant cottonwood tree claiming it was located at Superior and the largest tree in Nebraska. The picture included two men sitting under the tree which was said to have been the location of many historical events. It appears the tree was located in a grove of trees but it's exact location or year of the picture was not given.

The post card was mailed from the Nora post office in September, 1910, to Agnes Pool, a resident of the Oak area. The writer who signed her name as Maude H. wrote, "How is school? I am getting along fine but I will soon be a cripple if I do not stay closer to my school."

In more recent times a cottonwood tree in the Guide Rock area was thought to be the largest tree in the state but last we heard the title for the tree with the largest circumference is now held by a silver maple located in Beatrice. The tallest tree is a white popular at Fremont. In Omaha the largest tree in terms of circumference and overall points is a huge northern catalpa.

Though it may not have rank as the biggest, Friday workmen called to remove a large cottonwood that lodged in Lost Creek, had all the tree and perhaps more than they wanted.

Last year during one of the numerous flood events, the tree which had apparently fallen into the creek floated down stream and lodged just below the property where Craig Hale is building a new house. It was stuck approximately 100 yards north of the Eighth Street bridge over Lost Creek.

City of Superior personnel do not know where the tree originated as they have not found the hole left when the rootball gave way. The tree lodged just beyond a sharp curve near the Bostwick Irrigation District's Ninth Street airlock structure and a culvert which drains Park Street. The large stump filled the creek channel and effectively provided a dam to catch other floating debris.

Tim Crowl worked with licensed riggers from Nebraska Crane to snake a large cable under the tree and through a small, but new channel, the creek had cut. With 40,000 pounds of lifting pressure applied by the crane the trunk did not budge and the crane overload alarm sounded.

Riggers attempted to maneuver the crane's cable closer to one end of the trunk. But because the trunk was partially buried in the mud, they were unsuccessful.

Crowl volunteered to divide the stump using a 48 inch chain saw on which he had just installed a new chain. Crowl later reported, the hollow portion of the trunk where he cut was filled with sand.

Larry Brittenham, Superior City Utility manager, stands by the upper portion of a Cottonwood tree stump pulled from Lost Creek Friday morning by Nebraska Crane. This portion of the stump weighed 17,000 pounds. FEMA and NEMA funds will pay for most of the cost of removing the stump.

The cable was adjusted and the stump removed in two pieces. The larger portion weighed 23,000 pounds and the smaller portion weighed 17,000 pounds.

Prior to setting the crane near the creek bank, Crowl Tree employees removed several trees along the bank so the crane could be positioned close to creek bank edge where it would have the most lifting power.

Larry Brittenham, utility superintendent, said, "FEMA and NEMA each will help pay for the stump's removal. The City of Superior will pay very little."

Removal plans were in process for several months as neither the city nor local entrepreneurs had equipment large enough to do the job.

Friday a crane was brought to Superior for a project as the city waste water treatment plant and the company agreed to attempt the tree removal

Fortunately, the area had not received a large rain since the trunk had gotten stuck.

More than 40 years ago the National Guard was called to Superior to remove a large cottonwood tree that had to be removed prior to the construction of Superior Manor.