600-year-old oak tree torn down in New Jersey

— -- A 600-year-old, 100-foot-tall white oak tree was removed from a New Jersey town on Monday.

According to arborists, the tree was declared dead after it had grown weaker and shown signs of rot over the past few years.

Despite the tree's condition, some Bernards, New Jersey, residents were stumped as to why it needed to be removed. They recalled seeing the tree as the backdrop to many weddings and family photos.

"I know it seems funny to some to mourn a tree, but I'm really going to miss seeing it," Bernards resident Monica Evans told local ABC station WABC.

The tree had roots tracing back to an important branch of the town's history. Community historians said Gen. George Washington had a picnic under the tree with Marquis de Lafayette.

The nearby church -- Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church -- was built in 1717, when the tree was 300 years old. Officials said the famous evangelist Rev. George Whitefield preached to thousands of people under it in 1740.

"It has been an integral part of the town, that's for sure," Jon Klippel, a member of the church's planning council, told WABC. "It has always been there, even before there was a town, and over the years many people have met there, been photographed there, had a meal under the tree. We've been blessed to have it here."

The tree's circumference was 18 feet and it had a branch spread of about 150 feet. At first, officials thought they would be able to simply remove segments of the larger limbs, but the rot was too severe.

Arborists said it died due to its age, and they felt more harsh winters or spring storms would be too much for it to weather.

But there is good news: Arborists are culturing a new white oak tree from this old tree's acorns. This new tree will grow near the church, turning over a new leaf of families who get to pose next to it and form memories under it.

White oak trees have an average lifespan of 300 years, but have been known to live to around 600 years in the U.S.