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  • 20100109manandtree01.jpg
    STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press
    Frank Knight, 101, stands in front of an elm tree known as "Herbie" in Yarmouth, Maine. Knight, who is recently retired, took care of the tree for about 50 years while working as the Yarmouth tree warden.
  • 20100109manandtree02.jpg
    STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press
    Lichen is seen growing on Herbie's bark. The tree, acclaimed as the tallest and oldest elm in New England, survived 14 bouts of Dutch elm disease in all, thanks to Knight's devotion.
  • 20100109manandtree03.jpg
    STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press
    A passer-by walks past Herbie. Herbie, estimated to be about 240 years old, will be cut down Jan. 18. Since Herbie's trunk alone weighs about 10 tons, a crane will assist as he's carefully dissected, one massive limb at a time, said Ted Armstrong, arborist with Whitney Tree Service, which is handling the job. After he's cut down, Herbie's true age will be revealed once the rings are counted at his base.
  • 20100109manandtree04.jpg
    STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press
    Sarah Lathrop, of Scarborough, Maine, examines Herbie to get inspiration for a speech class.
  • 20100109manandtree05.jpg
    STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press
    Textured bark is seen on Herbie. Donna Felker, who grew up in the house that shares Herbie's shade, is credited with naming him.
  • 20100109manandtree06.jpg
    STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press
    A bow and information are posted on Herbie, who has a circumference of 20 feet, a height of 110 feet and a canopy measuring 120 feet. The tree's remains will be kiln-dried in a mill. He'll eventually be transformed into salad bowls, Christmas ornaments and furniture.
  • 20100121manandtree07.jpg
    ROBERT F. BUKATY/Associated Press
    An arborist in a cherry picker cuts limbs off a massive elm tree nicknamed Herbie on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. The tree, which is estimated to be about 240 years old, has succumbed to the ravages of Dutch elm disease.
  • 20100121manandtree08.jpg
    PAT WELLENBACH/Associated Press
    A worker cuts limbs from Herbie, New England's largest and oldest elm tree, in preparation for it to be cut down. The tree succumbed to Dutch elm disease after surviving 14 previous bouts with the fungus.
  • 20100121manandtree09.jpg
    PAT WELLENBACH/Associated Press
    People wait and watch as Herbie is prepared to be cut down. Herbie was believed to be the oldest tree of its kind in the northeast.
  • 20100121manandtree10.jpg
    PAT WELLENBACH/Associated Press
    Herbie falls to the ground on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, after workers spent hours preparing it to be cut down. The massive tree is estimated to be 240 years old, but its exact age will be known after officials count the growth rings in the trunk.
  • 20100121manandtree11.jpg
    PAT WELLENBACH/Associated Press
    A tree worker removes saw dust from Herbie after cutting it down Jan. 19.
  • 20100121manandtree12.jpg
    PAT WELLENBACH/Associated Press
    Knight, 101, who has been Herbie the tree's caretaker for over half a century, puts a caring hand on Herbie after it was cut down in Yarmouth, Maine, on Jan. 19.