BROKEN OAK HILL(R) Dispatches from the heart of Wisconsin of strength
There's probably no exact record of when we first found the broken oak on top of our hill. Our Dad and Mom, Burt and Margaret DeBaun, bought the tree farm in 1961 for back taxes and it was a fixture on the place then. It doesn't seem to have grown that much in the past 50 years, but just the fact that the old white oak is still going strong is remarkable. It's a favorite spot to visit with family and friends, and over the years many photographs have been taken there.
To read more about the early history of the tree farm, read The Cookstove by Burt.
Recent additions
Matt DeBaun and Kristi Hearnsberger enjoy a fall hike in the woods that leads to the broken oak in the September 2011 photo.
From the archives
Tom's son Alex poses with Nicholas (gold T-shirt), Abby and Eli on the broken oak in the summer of 2010.
A view of the broken oak looking like some sad-eyed forest creature.
Springtime shadows
The afternoon sun creates a shadow of the broken oak. We're always glad every visit to find the tree still standing on a hill that often suffers blowdowns in big storms.
Family Portraits...
These are photos of some of the Kansas members of the family who visited in the summer of 2009.
Loren DeBaun with wife Tisha and Garrett and Gavin.
Lucas Boss with wife Kate and Landon and Lexi.
Nate & John DeBaun
at the broken oak, spring of 2009.
