By Lauren Mickler
HARRISBURG, Ore. -- There are all sorts of trees in Oregon -- maple, magnolia and pine.
But there's one tree that's one-of-a-kind in Lane County.
If you take the less-traveled Peoria Road between Eugene and Corvallis, one tree in particular is likely to catch your eye.
"We've been here about 12 years and it's been here the whole time we've been here," said Peoria Road resident Jim Henslee.
It's not just the tree that draws drivers' attention, but what lies on its limbs is not fruit or leaves.
Instead, pairs of shoes don the branches like ornaments on a Douglas fir in December.
"It's kind of ironic to look up and think there's a tree with shoes up in it, it's gotta be a shoe tree," Henslee said.
And that's exactly what neighbors call it: The shoe tree.
They say people started decorating this one about a year or two ago, but before that, the shoes called a different tree home.
"It was on a tree on the west side of the road, and then it blew over, and then about a half a year later, they started showing up on the east side of the road," said resident Marvin Stutzman.
And while all the neighbors and navigators along peoria road know where the shoe tree is, no one knows how it got there.
"I don't know what starts it," Stutzman said.
"One day it had some shoes up in it. I assume someone was running by and just decided to throw some shoes up in it," Henslee said.
Neighbors say they have no idea who is wrapping their work boots and hanging their high tops amongst the boughs and branches of the Peoria Road Tree.
And while the crafty culprits remain concealed, their creation is anything but.
0 comments:
Post a Comment