Was shoe tree chopped down to avoid accidents?

Photo by Bill Huddleston

A Gazette Blog reader sent the following regarding the demise of the landmark shoe tree on the Beeline Highway:

I drive by the shoe tree all the time and a few weeks ago there was a bad accident near the shoe tree. A couple of weeks later the tree was cut down. I assumed that local officials or 'do-gooders' cut it to remove the distraction that was so near the highway on a curve. Sad to see it go!