County officials have finally determined what to do with remaining wood from the century-old Osage orange tree, which unexpectedly toppled onto the courthouse lawn last September.
The Chattanooga Department of Public Works will offer small pieces of the wood as souvenirs, while larger portions of the tree will be given away through a name-drawing lottery.
The wood will be given away, free of charge, at the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant on March 28.
The Osage orange tree was a signature installment on the courthouse lawn. The tree, known for its twisted, knotted trunk, had been the site of countless weddings and events.
Along with giving wood away to citizens, County Mayor Jim Coppinger recently said portions of the tree would be used for the creation of outdoor benches, as well as a podium. Coppinger, along with county commissioners, planted a new Osage orange sapling last November, donated by Orange Grove Center.
Residents wishing to have a small, souvenir-sized portion of the tree can receive one free of charge on a first-come-first-served basis. The souvenir-sized wood will be given away at 9 a.m.
Also at 9 a.m., registration for larger pieces of the wood will take place. Names will then be drawn for the lottery at 10 a.m.
Anyone who is granted a sizable portion of the Osage should be prepared to haul it away. Some lots of wood will weigh hundreds of pounds; others could weigh in the 1,000-pound range.
The entrance to the wood storage area is located along Moccasin Bend Road, just south of Hamm Road and prior to the golf course.
