It’s that time of year again, with the leaves gone, for history buffs of Southwest Wisconsin to help find Indian trail marker and ceremonial trees.

Those trees were trained, in the bonzai fashion, by all tribes as functional sites for direction, food, water, shelter and spiritual “road signs.” The last known group found was determined to be 100 years old by tree ring taps. Most of the other 20 located varied in age up to 375 years old.

The sad truth is that, in another 75 years, these trees will all be gone from human enjoyment.

I would ask all persons who are outdoors any time of the year to keep a lookout for these strange shaped trees. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0px; line-height: 11.0px; font: 10.0px Times} span.s1 {font: 10.0px 'Times New Roman'}

Call, write or e-mail your name, address, telephone number and time best to contact you to Richland County History Room, 325 North Central Ave., Richland Center, WI 53581; (608) 647-6033; richlandctyhistoryroom@yahoo.com.