The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Many can remember when Red went to the oak tree by the stone fence. That tree is located at Malabar Farms in Richland County Ohio. This past weekend, straight line winds split the old tree in half. Has many in this area saddened by the event. Malabar was owned by the author Louis Bromfield. Lauren Becall and Humprey Bogart was married there as well. Lots of history at that farm.

Each weekend as I go to the lake, I pass by there and imagine all the big events that happened there many years ago. Turely a historic place to visit.

Last Friday as I got to the lake, it began to rain. I got all my weekend supplies onboard only to be completely soaked within minuets. Then the winds picked up. All of a sudden I look out my back cabin door and see my bimini top ripping loose from its mounts. I slid the sliding door open and grabbed the strap to hook it back up. Dang! the wind broke the metal hook that held the strap in place. I then noticed that the strap to the flying bridges bimini was also flapping. I managed to get them tied to a handle above the cabin door. I looked out the side window only to see my friends riverboats gas grill go airborne and flip over about 6 feet onto his deck. After the storm was over, my rear deck top was shredded, a houseboat got its roof liner peeled off, and a few other pontoon boats got their covers destroyed. Sure was a wild ride for the 15 minuets that it lasted. Never I had to hang on inside the boat while tied up to the dock. Only later in the weekend I found out that the same storm damaged the tree from Shawshank Redemption.

 

[royal0014]

Re: The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

Interesting. Love the movie, watch it everytime it's on. Had no idea the tree was historical....


<<)))(((>>

 

[shrew]

Re: The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

Interesting. I read the short story by Stephen King. I've seen the movie several times. Each time, when they get to the seen of the field and the wall in the field, i say "There is no way that is a farm in Maine". I'm glad my suspcions were correct.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

Its interesting to know where that spot really was. I live in Buxton Maine and I always have to say that I've never seen that spot here.

 

[Talen]

Re: The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

If you want you can all meet me in Zihuatanejo.

 

[JRJ]

Re: The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

Thanks for the story SS, I wondered where the tree was.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: The Shawshank Redemption Oak Tree

I heard on the local AM radio that the tree is not on the Malabar State Farm, but on the land next to the farm by a private owner. They reported that many calls from across the states and some foreign countries have been received. I know if I was the owner of the tree, I would be cutting up the damaged parts and selling them to people who would want part of the making of a famous movie.

I heard that 90% of the movie was made in this county. The prison where it was filmed is in Mansfield. It is the Ohio State Reformatory. There are websites available on the prison. I learned a lot about it from my brother-in-law as he was a resident there many years before it was closed. I went there for their Halloween set up. Really great experience in itself.

The motel where Brooks and Red had stayed is known as the Bissman building. If any of you watch the Ghost Adventures, they have been there several times as well as the reformatory. They even mentioned and showed the wood beam where Red and Brooks carved their names in it. Sure is odd to be so close to these areas. My old work shop was only about 200yards from that building. Then the place I turn in my scrap metal, I have to drive down the driveway of the reformatory to get there. There is tours available for the Shawshank sites.

Maybe this coming week, I'll stop by there and take some pics to post.