The Shadow
By Jeremy Hunt
Daily News-Record
HARRISONBURG (AP) – Donald Voas has fielded questions from numerous people about why he and his fellow woodworkers haven’t fashioned more items from the wood of the historic Jackson Prayer Tree.
The white oak stood for centuries on land near Weyers Cave before a storm felled it last spring.
Specifically, they want to know why the Woodturners of the Virginias group didn’t make more trinkets in time for sale as Christmas gifts.
Members of the New Market-based Woodturners began cutting up the white oak in June with the intention of crafting wooden pens, boxes, bowls, platters and other items.
But it takes time for the moisture content in the wood to match that of the surrounding atmosphere, meaning woodworkers must hold off to avoid post-production problems such as cracking or warping, Voas said.
“We have to be sure that wood has been stabilized before we’re going to be showing items to people for their use,” the Harrisonburg resident said.
So far, no more than 5 percent of the usable wood from the tree has been crafted into items, Voas said.
The massive tree’s location near Middle River led to its fame.
In 1862, Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson camped his army of 15,000 men between the Middle and South rivers.
His army had just completed a string of Civil War victories, including those at the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic.
A local legend sprouted that Jackson stopped near the tree to pray during the encampment.
Nearly 150 years later, strong winds from a storm toppled the oak last May, threatening to end the storied tree’s existence.
But after it fell, Donna Miller agreed to let the Woodturners harvest the timber to give it a second life.
Miller’s family owns the farm where the tree grew along Va. 256 between Grottoes and Weyers Cave.
The tree’s age hasn’t been determined, but it is believed to be at least 230 years old.
“It’s fun and kind of an honor of sorts to be able to work with that wood because you just don’t find old timber like that,” Voas said.
Members of the Central Virginia Woodturners chapter are also participating in the project to turn the wood from the tree into usable items.
Some proceeds from the sale of prayer tree trinkets will benefit the Wounded Warriors Fund, a nonprofit organization that helps military veterans wounded in battle, as well as historic preservation efforts.
Finished products are for sale at Oasis Fine Art & Craft in downtown Harrisonburg. The Woodturners group plans to sell Jackson’s Prayer Tree trinkets at other locations as well.
Finished items are identified with Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree, or SJPT, and the artist’s name etched into the items’ back or bottom.
Each item comes with a folder providing the history, photos of Jackson and pictures of the tree.
Jeff Fleisher, president of the Woodturners of the Virginias, says he’s proud to work, literally, on a piece of history.
“It was quite an honor for Donna (Miller) to give us the tree,” Fleisher said. “What makes it important is the history of the tree.”
