When Oak Hill’s namesake, a giant red oak, was a sapling, the Little Neck dispute was only 160 years old.

Tuesday, Dec. 7, a crane towering over downtown Ipswich marked the tree’s demise, the victim of rot and disease.

The Little Neck dispute lives on.

The giant red oak that gave the Central Street Oak Hill elderly congregate housing its name came down after three arborists had been consulted. All confirmed it was too diseased to leave standing. The tree had major defects that could lend to failure of all or part of the tree, and could cause significant property damage or worse.

According to Roger Burke, Oak Hill Chairman of the Board, the tree might have been as old as 200 years. James Madison was President then. “The arborists will confirm its age,” Burke said. “We called it the ‘Venerable Tree.’”

The tree was in unstable condition 22 years ago when ground was broken for Oak Hill.

“We’ve been watching it for years, “Burke said, adding that every year arborists inspected it.

At this year’s evaluation, the experts deemed the tree’s time was up as they determined the branches overhanging the building and driveway posed a safety hazard in their weakened condition. Several of the branches overhung two apartments and the community room.

Burke said a representative from Markham Lumber in Essex would advise how the wood could be used.

“Something will be made of it, furniture, possibly a table,” he said.

Four arborists with Mayer Tree Service of Essex began limbing the tree at 7:30 a.m., and by 9:30 a.m., only the massive trunk approximately 6 feet in diameter, was left standing.

The first far-reaching limbs brought down clearly showed advanced disease, even to the untrained eye. The interior wood was pithy and black. Even its sound in the wood chipper was different from the sound of lower, healthier limbs.

Several lower limbs were set aside for future use, and the rich, red heartwood that gives the red oak its name was evident.

Burke said that a new oak, as mature as possible, will be planted in a spot farther up the driveway behind the building.