Chickasha is home to an unusual kind of “Statehood Baby.”

It is a huge pecan tree that measures more than 11 feet around its gnarly trunk.

The tree, which is located in the 600 block of S. 12th St., was accepted as a “Centennial Witness Tree,” thanks to a project of the same name that sought out trees that “witnessed” Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907, in an attempt to locate the first trees planted by Oklahoma settlers.

Paige Barth, a painter, stained-glass artist and gourmet cook from New Jersey who shares her backyard with the tree as it shares native pecans with her, applied for the Centennial Tree designation in July, 2007. She was approved on Aug. 7, and received her official certification just yesterday - one day before Statehood Day, Nov. 16.

While Barth enjoys her mammoth shade tree, it keeps her busy with yard work. In fact, she bought a kiva fireplace to take advantage of the free firewood that falls from her “self-pruning” tree, and she recently raked 20 bags of leaves from her backyard.

Nonetheless, this New Jersey transplant is proud of her Centennial Witness Tree and is planning a party to celebrate its new celebrity status.

The project is the result of the combined efforts of the Tree Bank Foundation, the Forestry Services of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission.

According to Becky Durrett, vice president of the Tree Bank, the Witness Tree Project was developed to increase public awareness of trees as an important part of Oklahoma’s heritage and to stress the importance of continued tree planting efforts in Oklahoma as a living legacy for future generations.

“Trees played an important part in the lives of Oklahoma’s first settlers,” said Urban Forestry Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Mark Bays. “In addition to fuel and housing materials, Oklahoma’s trees provided protection from the sun and wind, and added beauty to the landscape. Many of the trees which populated the forests and plains of Oklahoma in 1907, as well as those planted by settlers soon after, are still standing today and we hope, with the help of the community, to find and identify these ‘witness trees.’”

Owners of trees nominated were asked to provide a description of their tree’s historical significance or any special-interest stories about the Witness Trees to be compiled and published in a commemmorative booklet.

To be eligible for the project, trees had to be estimated at more than 100 years of age and be located in Oklahoma. In addition, a description of the tree’s species and location were provided, along with photos showing the full height and width of the tree and a measurement of its circumference.

Selected trees were registered on an official list and their owners received an Oklahoma Centennial Commission Certificate.