Town holds fundraiser to restore vandalized 'honking tree'

The 'honking tree'
This towering white pine along Hwy 61 near Two Harbors was spared from destruction during rebuilding of Highway 61 in the 1960s. It became known as the "honking tree" because Two Harbors residents started sounding their car horns when passing by the tree to alert neighbors they had returned safely from Duluth.
Photo by Paul Walvatne, courtesy of MnDOT

About 50 people gathered for a fundraiser in Two Harbors, for a tree. The famous "Honking Tree" was chopped down by vandals in April - and the folks at the Black Woods Grille and Bar are held a spaghetti dinner tonight to raise money to restore it.

Like many North Shore residents, commentator Catherine Conlan had come to see the 113-year-old white pine as much more than a tree.

Catherine Conlan lives in Two Harbors and she gave this commentary on what the tree meant to her.

The Black Woods Grille and Bar there hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser tonight. Proceeds will go to the restoration or memorialization of "the honking tree."

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