The Emory Oak was measured by Payson Forest Rangers to be 53 feet in height with an average crown spread of 66 feet.  The age of the tree was calculated using historical accounts, photos, personal testimonial, and the estimate of the two Rangers.  They felt the tree could easily be 200 years old.

 

Before Payson had a jail (1935), local history sources tell of the "chaining tree," an Emory Oak on Main Street where according to Rim Country History “The oak tree in front of the Womans Club [original spelling] was the ‘jail tree’ in early Payson where misdoers were chained until they could be taken to the Globe jail. Most ‘criminals’ were just good ol’ boys who needed a place to calm down their exuberance from too much ‘likker’.”  In a Mogollon Advisor story from 1982 a side view of the tree is shown with this story: “Payson’s history of law enforcement would not be complete without some reference to our jails.  For many years, Payson had no jail building.  Those who ran afoul of the law and were arrested were chained to an oak tree and remained there until an officer from the county jail in Globe could transport the individual to the Globe jail.  That oak tree still stands in front of the Payson Women’s Club and provides a shady rest for the sun baked native or visitor. Yes, the old timers say there were few who needed incarceration, but a very few have been left overnight and slept under the sky and under the old oak tree.”

 

The Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi) is native to New Mexico and Arizona. Its acorns are prized by both native wildlife and Native Americans because they are sweet and can be eaten out of hand.  The local Tonto Apache tribe, who make their acorn stew still today, must have appreciated the huge output of sweet acorns the tree on Main Street produced over the years.

 

The tree, which grows at elevations from 3,500 to 6.700 feet, can reach 66 feet in height with a spreading crown and stout branches. The Emory Oak is named for William Hemsley Emory (1811-87), leader of two southwestern expeditions  who discovered it.