Residents of Alley have mixed feelings about the 300-year-old cotton tree at St. Peter’s Church. While some appreciate its historical significance, others view it as a persistent nuisance, with its roots repeatedly damaging the church’s red brick fence. Stories of misfortune surrounding efforts to fell the tree have only added to its notoriety, leaving locals uncertain about whether it should be preserved or finally removed.

Published Friday, January 6, 1965

The Star

The jinx of Alley’s cotton trees
 

By A Star Correspondent

ALLEY, a beaming little commercial township that borders the West Indies Sugar Company’s cane farms in the plains of Vere, is famous for its troublesome cotton trees. First, it was the old market gate cotton tree. Now, the focus is on the oldest cotton tree at the gate of St. Peter's Church.

Councillor St. P. Curveilje, who represents the area, said Alley’s oldest cotton tree is the one supporting the Church Services Notice Board.

It is approximately 300 years old, he said, and perhaps more famous than the felled mystery market gate cotton tree.

The Parish Councillor could not provide the full history of St. Peter’s tree, but everyone agrees that each year, the roots of the cotton tree break down a portion of the church fence made of old red bricks. As often as the broken wall is repaired, a new crack appears.

Not Correct

Alleging that not all the reports about the market gate cotton tree were correct, the Councillor said that at the Finance Committee meeting this Thursday, he plans to propose a concerted move to clear Alley market yard of the large log left from the felled tree. The tree was cut down early last year but still lies there.
A planned market improvement for Alley would require the ground space currently occupied by the log.

The Councillor mentioned unconfirmed reports that persons who previously attempted to fell the tree met misfortune and died afterward. However, he noted that the foreman in charge of the job slipped from a ladder leaned against the tree and was hospitalised for weeks.

Damaged Car

Three efforts have been made to fell the tree. The first was to clear a dead overhanging branch, which cost the Parish Council £10. The Councillor stated that to his knowledge, the man who was paid the £10 is still alive though a group of schoolboys nearby contradicted him, saying, “We heard he is dead, Sir.”

The Councillor was unclear about what happened during the second attempt, but he admitted that weeks after the tree was finally felled, efforts to burn it failed. Portions of the iron-railed market fence immediately behind the cotton tree trunk suddenly collapsed and damaged a nearby parked motor car. The Parish Council had to cover the repair costs for the car.

So behave Alley’s old cotton trees. This week, the one at St. Peter’s gate opened a wide, yawning crack in the wall, which now threatens to topple any day.

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