Up a Tree

Mrs. Penny Stebbins, 34, of Branford, Conn., took special joy from the giant copper beech tree on the vacant lot next to her home. Majestically soaring 60 feet, the century-old tree had become a landmark for the area and a meeting place for lovers. A common boast around the neighborhood was that such trees live as long as 500 years. So when the lot's owners decided to build a house on the property and began cutting down the tree, Mrs. Stebbins launched a valiant holding action. Perhaps taking a hint from the premiere episode of TV's popular Apple's Way, in which the hero staged a tree-in, Mrs. Stebbins climbed into the tree last week and remained there twelve to 15 hours a day, vowing to keep up her vigil until the huge tree was granted a reprieve. By midweek she had gained the support of many neighbors, some joining her in the tree, others keeping the faith on the ground.

Local authorities finally acted in the name of private property. Police and firemen succeeded in coaxing Mrs. Stebbins down after seven days, and workmen then quickly felled the enormous beech. Though the tree was lost, Mrs. Stebbins claimed a kind of nuisance-factor victory: "I think we've made a point. People may now think twice about cutting down a beautiful thing like that."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.