This is a very majestic Live Oak tree and is one of the biggest in the state.  It measures over 36 feet in circumference.  This tree has been estimated to be 600 to 700 years old by a forestry expert.  That is incredible when you consider that it is about a half mile from the bank of the Mississippi river.  Before the levy system, the river could flood the land about 2 miles from its bank.

Here are stories form people who grew up with this tree in there life.  This stories range form folk lore to personal experiences to even thoughts of what the tree has endured.  I hope you find these stories interesting and enjoyable.

By Lisa Poche Rouillier; AKA Mom:

I was a child of the 60s and have many fond memories of time spent in "The" tree.  You mention "the big tree" around here; anyone in my family knows exactly what tree you're talking about.

I was born the last child of eight.  My parents were already Grandparents when I was born.  I was raised with the grandkids because the older grandkids and I were nearly the same ages.  My oldest nephew, Randy, who is over 8 months older than I, used to climb this wonderful tree together.

Back when we were kids, the tree looked a lot different than it does now.  The tree used to go into the ground twice, one part was the main trunk and the other was where a branch had started to grow a couple of hundred years before.  We're not talking a little drooping limb that sprouted recently; we're talking about what was basically a second trunk.  That trunk was nearer the center of the tree than the real trunk because of the extensive canopy of this grand tree. 

The branch that joined the two sections was huge and sturdy.  It was a giant, wide arch.  We used to climb up the younger end and walk over the arch to the main side.  On the highest part of that arch was a healed over nub of branch that was no longer there.  That nub was easily two feet in diameter.  It was a little to the side, so it was a good place to regain our nerve before making the trip down to the original trunk.

Randy and I spent many an hour playing in the tree.  When we were too little to climb to the next level up, Randy nailed teeth from a cycle blade mower into the trunk to use as steps.  Now as an adult that really bothers me.  All I knew as a kid was that we wanted to get higher.  Now that I'm a good bit older, I can't stand to see those spikes.  The old tree has healed over quite well.  In fact, the teeth are almost completely healed over.  I wish we had found a different way to climb to the higher level, but we didn't.  I would do more damage trying to dig the teeth out.  There is actually a large ladder that goes from the lower level up to the next level now.  It's much safer for the kids and it's also better for our wonderful old tree.

Now I protect this tree because I realize just what a treasure we have here.  It's fun to watch visitors' faces when they get their first good look at this tree.  I like to take them to a certain spot that provides them with the most awesome view.  I enjoy listening to the gasp and amazement when the size of this grand old tree hits them.  It's truly a treasure!

By Emile Poche, Jr.:

When I was 6 years old, I climbed towards the end of the long branch.  When I saw how high I was (about 12 feet above the ground), I froze.  My mother tried to coax me, but I could not move – I could not get down.  When our paperboy (Larry Boudreaux) came by, my mother asked him to help.  And, he coaxed me to come down.

By Nancy Poche Champton:

When I climbed the old oak tree with my younger sister, Linda, I’d always sit on the “bird’s nest”.  I’d never let her sit there, so she would cry.  That’s the only reason I sat there!

By Jerry Poche:

The Ponchatrain Levee Board built a workshop under the big oak tree.  The construction workers were running pipes for electrical wires.  They discarded some metal “pop outs” that resembled coins.  When I saw them on the ground, I asked them “What is this?”  They told me it was the seeds for a money tree.  I collected and held on to them for a while.  They convinced me that I should plant the seeds so I could grow my own money.  “Money trees” must have a long germination time – they’re haven’t sprouted yet!

By Debra Poche Dennis:

As kids, Jerry (my brother), Julie (my sister), and I played in the big oak tree.  Julie always sat on the “bird’s nest” at the top of the arch, and Jerry and I each sat on the big branch on either side of her spot.  I never walked along the smaller end of the branch because I had more sense than Emile.

By Lisa Poche Rouillier; AKA Mom:

My nephew Randy is 6 months younger than me.  When we were young, we found a beehive in the big oak tree.  We poked the hive with a big stick and watched as the honey dripped to the ground.  But that didn’t last too long – because the bees saw us and began to chase us.  We ran all the way back to the house.  And, unbelievably, we never got stung.

By Nancy Poche Champton:

When I didn’t want to do my chores, I’d run and hide in the tree.  I could hear my mother call for me, but I wouldn’t answer.

By Jerry Poche:

Another memory I have of the oak tree is that my mother sometimes needed potting soil.  So, I would scrape up the top layer of decomposed leaves and that is what she used in her flower pots.