Springfield, IL — A landmark cucumber magnolia tree, believed to be 200 to 250 years old, was removed last month from the grounds of Chesapeake Seafood House at 3045 Clear Lake Ave.
What led to the removal
The decision came after a large limb broke off during a July 18 storm and fell across two parked vehicles, damaging one of them. No injuries were reported.
Restaurant owner Daniel Whitmore, who has run Chesapeake for 45 years, said the tree was taken down three days later.
“It’s been a part of Chesapeake,” Whitmore said. “It’s a shame it had to go. It becomes a liability.”
A history of structural problems
According to Whitmore, the tree had shown signs of decline for some time:
- A large section fell during calm weather conditions in 2025, after a tree service had flagged rot at the top of the tree and advised monitoring it.
- Earlier in July, a person using a metal detector on the property reported that falling bark or debris from the tree narrowly missed him.
- Multiple tree services worked on the tree over the years, including trimming, watering during droughts, and cable supports.
“We could no longer safely risk another major failure occurring while guests or employees were nearby,” Whitmore said. “Its removal was not something we wanted to do.”
The removal was made jointly with property owner J & J Properties. About 3 to 4 feet of the trunk remains standing, and Whitmore said it could be turned into a bench.
A local landmark
The tree was a popular gathering spot for restaurant patrons and provided extensive shade. Cucumber magnolias, more common in the eastern U.S. and Appalachian region, are known for their cucumber-shaped fruit and yellow-green flowers.
Guy Sternberg of Starhill Forest Arboretum in Petersburg previously called it “the ‘wow’ tree” in a 2014 interview, noting it was one of the largest of its species in Illinois.
Its removal follows the June removal of a tree dating to Abraham Lincoln’s time at his former home at Eighth and Jackson streets, taken down by the National Park Service after storm damage.
What’s next
Whitmore said storms and infrastructure work have reduced the number of trees on the property by about 30 over the years. He and the property owners plan to plant new trees on the site this fall.
“There’s definitely room to put something in there,” he said.