Original cache at the tree is nolonger available because a wooden fence was constructed around the tree.
This historic White Oak pushed her first roots into the earth sometime during the 1760s, while the Mississauga Indians camped, fished and drank from the clean waters of nearby Bronte Creek.
In the years that followed, she bore witness to the joys and hardships of our indigenous people. The White Oak was there to greet the very first settlers and loggers, who, (for reasons known only to the Oak) decided to spare her from the axe.
The area's first crops and orchards were planted under her watchful gaze, and for decades she offered shade to those who travelled by stagecoach along Bronte Road.
A full century older than Canada itself, this magnificent Oak has endured the brutality of almost 250 winters. But her greatest challenge now is not her age; she has recently been assessed in good health with the potential to live for many more years.
The greatest threat to the life of this magnificent tree comes from us. Bronte Road is going to be widened and it appears our historic Oak is in the way.
The Environmental Assessment report concluded that the historic Oak should be relocated or removed. 345,000 dollars were raised to save the tree, This solution would see southbound traffic on Bronte Road use the existing lanes while new lanes would be built on the east side of the tree to accommodate northbound traffic.
Regional staff said they needed a green light to continue design work on the project, the community had raised $268,000, thanks to a celebrated $150,000 donation from an anonymous Toronto woman who owned property in Oakville.
Cache is hidden near where the new road will be built.