History and Memory of the Toomer’s Oaks

 

by: Janet Kynard, It Happens in Alabama, janet@ithappensinalabama.com


 1868 – Sheldon Toomer, Sr. moves to Lee County after the Civil War. In 1872, Sheldon L. Toomer, Jr. graduates from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now Auburn University). He later returns for a pharmacy degree. In 1880, the Toomer’s oaks are planted, perhaps by Judge John Harper, founder of the city of Auburn. In 1892, Students congregate to the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street to celebrate after football games.

1896 – Sheldon Toomer opens Toomer’s Drugstore on the corner of Magnolia and College, home to the only telegraph machine in town. In the late 1800′s Toomer’s employees develop a signal system to notify the community of Auburn football wins at away games. They threw ticker tape from the telegraph machine onto the power lines outside the store. In 1907, Sheldon Toomer opens Auburn Bank on the  corner of Magnolia Ave & College St. During the 1900′s, the corner remains a popular location for fans and residents of the  community to congregate.

1952 – Mac and Elizabeth Lipscomb purchase Toomer’s Drugstore from state Senator Sheldon Toomer. In 1962, fans begin rolling power lines outside of the drugstore with toilet paper to celebrate away game wins. In 1972, Don Haisten graduates from Auburn with a pharmacy degree. In 1984, Mark Morgan purchases Toomer’s Drugstore from the Lipscomb’s.

 

1989 – The Iron Bowl comes to Auburn for the first time. The Auburn win celebration resulted in the trees along Magnolia & College being blanketed in toilet paper. In the early 1990′s, the power lines moved underground, toilet paper now isolated to the oaks. In 1992, Toomer’s sold to William (Billy) Beasley after Morgan’s death. In 1999, Don & Betty Haisten purchased Toomer’s. In 2001, Esquire Magazine put Toomer’s lemonade in the number 1 spot of “162 Reasons it’s Good to be an American” (Picture-Curry and Pat Dye before First Iron Bowl in Auburn 1989.)

2002 – The Toomer’s oaks project begins at Auburn – acorns from the oaks are collected and nurtured for use around campus.


2011 – Auburn Tigers become National Champions.

 

February 16, 2011 – The announcement is made that Toomer’s oaks were poisoned with a lethal dose of Spike 80DF – 65 times the amount necessary to kill them by an Alabama fan.

February 19, 2011 – Hundreds gathered at Toomer’s Corner to show their support for the Oaks.

The Toomer’s Corner Oaks were pruned significantly for safety reasons, based on advice from Auburn University’s Tree Preservation Committee.

November 18, 2012. 3:00 AM – A game day tradition at Auburn ended early due to a fire on Saturday. Tiger fans Roll “Toomer’s Corner” after a home game win, but some time during Saturday’s celebration, someone set fire to the toilet paper hanging in the trees. The fire was small and it was out in a matter of minutes.

I got my last visit with the Toomer’s Oaks on April 17, 2013. I felt as if I had come to know them, from my many visits over this past year. It was as if they were my ailing friend. Leaving them was very hard for me, knowing that I would never see them again.

I could not bring myself to be there, when the oaks were cut down on April 23, 2013, but I did go the next day to get you a picture of the famed, sacred corner. The trees were cut down with care and the wood was saved to be carved into souvenirs that will be sold to raise money for scholarships for future Auburn students.

As I put this board together of the history of the Toomer’s Corner Oaks, it was as if I were there, in each year. I felt the joy of a growing town, the victory of winning the first Iron Bowl held in Auburn, the excitement of rolling the trees and watching a huge tradition being born, right in front of me. Then all of my happiness turned to deep sadness, all too quickly, over the poisoning of the beloved oaks. There is another tradition in Auburn that can never be killed. That is called BELIEF.

Video Footage from ESPN “A Tradition Ends”

The story continues:

5-30-2013:
Toomer's Corner in Auburn will soon have a new look.  The city has hired a firm from Atlanta (wish we could have kept this money in Alabama!) to refresh the area now that the oak trees are gone.  The intersection will be re-done with brick pavers or stamped concrete and have huge stone arches ( kinda reminds me of UGA).  The plan also involves two new oak trees that would be ready to roll in about three years. I am glad that the next chapter of the Auburn tradition is getting underway! WAR EAGLE.

5-31-2013:
 The Lee County District Attorney’s Office is asking Harvey Updyke Jr. be ordered to pay approximately $1 million in restitution for the poisoning of the Toomer's Oaks. $1 million dollars for all that has gone into trying to save the  Oaks, removing them and now the face lift of the Toomer's Corner...Sounds about right, BUT who has that kind of money laying around? There is the old saying, "You can't get blood from a turnip". I am disappointed that part of his punishment wasn't working with a reforestation project. Spending months replanting seedlings after a clear cut would give him plenty of time to think about what he has done.