The tree was located on the grounds of the Regional Water Authority (RWA) and was estimated to be 175 to 200 years old when it was chainsawed down.

[4] The tree's unusual shape attracted interest, and it appeared on the TV show Ripley's Believe it or Not.

[3] The tree was a local landmark and it was also featured on a full page of Rachel Hartley's 1943 book The History of Hamden, Connecticut, 1786–1936.

[3] The Regional Water Authority and Hamden Historical Society each offered a $1,000 reward to find out who was responsible.

[4] Curtis Pardee of New Haven, Connecticut, was arrested and later admitted that he felled the tree with a chainsaw.

[6] Pardee was charged with third degree criminal mischief and later claimed that he suffered from mental illness for years.