On June 5, 2018, Hampton lost a significant historical asset: our Constitution Oak. The 116 year old pin oak was one of 168 seedlings given to delegates to the Constitutional Convention which convened in Hartford in 1902. Representatives from each of Connecticut’s towns were given the seedlings at the conclusion of the Convention.
The Constitutional Convention of 1902 was called in an attempt to correct unfairness in representation that resulted from Connecticut’s original Constitution of 1818. The Constitution of 1818 established representation by area of land, rather than by population of citizens – which is the custom today. Unfortunately the citizens of Connecticut rejected the new constitution in 1902. It took until 1965 for a new state Constitution to be adopted and for the inequities to be remedied. The only relic of the failed convention of 1902 remained the seedlings distributed to delegates.
Hampton’s Constitution Oak was planted by delegate W.H. Burnham on the triangle at the southern intersection of Main Street (Route 97) and Route 6 (now West Old Route 6), where it greeted travelers to Hampton’s historic town center for over 100 years. Though damaged by the hurricane of 1938, it stood for another 80 years. In 2002, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the planting of Connecticut’s Constitution Oaks, a survey found 74 of the 168 original trees still standing.
The State Department of Transportation determined that our Constitution Oak ultimately needed to be removed for public safety. While the base of the tree appeared sound, the upper section of the tree trunk was hollow and found to be the home of a family of raccoons. The suddenness and surprise of the trees’ removal shocked and mystified many Hamptonites. A number of us who had gathered, sadly watched the limb by limb removal of the tree (it felt like an amputation) until nothing remained but a ground-level circular disc where the mighty oak had once stood. Resident Bob Inman counted the rings and confirmed the tree’s 116 year age and 1902 planting date.
Folks often confuse ”Constitution Oak” with “Charter Oak” and refer to the various Constitution Oaks as Charter Oaks. While there were originally 168 Constitution Oaks, as explained above, there was only one Charter Oak. The Charter Oak was a centuries old, hollow, white oak in which Connecticut’s charter from King Charles II was hidden from the emissaries of Charles’ successor, James II, when he sought to tighten control over the colonies by rescinding and removing their charters in 1687. It is the Charter Oak that was commemorated by Hampton resident Andy Jones on the Connecticut State quarter in 1999.
Wood from Hampton’s Constitution Oak has been set aside for future use in an as yet to be determined commemoration. Citizens with ideas for that commemoration may contact the Selectman’s office or Bob Burgoyne. Volunteers to help create our commemorative artifact would also be appreciated.
Bob Burgoyne, Municipal Historian
Sue Hochstetter, President, Antiquarian and Historical Society