Historical Name: Belvidere, NJ Shoe Tree
Common Name: White Oak
Latin Name: Quercus alba
An old White Oak known as the Shoe Tree grows along (and partially in) Oxford Street in the town of Belvidere, NJ. As the county seat of Warren County, Belvidere has a long history, dating back to when it was the local village surrounded by the many farms found in this rural portion of our State. Back then many of the local inhabitants were not wealthy and resources were scarce. It is for these reasons the Shoe Tree gained its fame. On Sundays, people would travel to town for church services, many walking from their homes in the surrounding countryside. Since shoes were expensive, and not easily replaced, many would walk barefooted to town, carrying their shoes. In the shade of this huge oak tree they would stop, put on their shoes, and then continue to their house of worship. Later, on the way back home, they would stop under the tree again to remove their shoes before continuing. This extended the useable life of these valued possessions.
As Belvidere grew, the lane along which the tree stood became a roadway. When plans to widen Oxford Street were developed, the tree was in the way and was scheduled to be removed. Townsfolk appreciating the interesting local history associated with the tree fought to save it. They prevailed. When the road was initially widened, the tree was actually growing in it. Today, the tree juts out into the road, but is protected by curbing and a guardrail. Still, the trunk shows scars from encounters with automobiles. The Shoe Tree does not represent an important part of NJ history, but is a vivid reminder of the times when many NJ residents, especially farmers, led simple lives with limited means.
The Shoe Tree found in UCNJ’s Historic Tree Grove was germinated from a seed collected from the parent tree in Belvidere in 2005. It was planted in the Grove in 2012.