Fire causes minimal damage to Virgin Mary tree

Scattered bits of charred newspaper were strewn on the ground. A San Alejo candle placed inside the tree was used not as a religious symbol but as an ignition source for a firework.

And watching over the entire mess was the Virgin Mary, or rather, an image of her etched into what is arguably the most famous tree in Brownsville.

On May 11, someone stuffed flammable objects in one of the rotting tree’s holes and lit the material on fire, causing minor damage.

No suspects have been named.

“The hole was just charred,” said Lt. Frank Seals, a fire inspector with the Brownsville Fire Department.

Charlie Davidson owns the house on 1004 St. Charles St. where the Virgin Mary tree is located. He was oblivious to the potential fire until he arrived at his home and found the fire department putting out the smoke.

“I had no idea what was going on until I showed up and was told,” Davidson said. “I would have never known.”

Davidson has recently put his home on the market, but plans to sell it have been deterred by the Virgin Mary tree.

“This tree bothers me because I don’t want to take it away from the people who love it,” he said. “But, I want to sell the house and I’m afraid of what the next owners will do to it.”

Davidson is not Catholic, but is still a man of faith.

He served as a deacon and elder in the Christian church, and is currently a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

His religious convictions are what have kept him alive so long, said the 89-year-old.

In fact, Davidson saw the huge tree when it was just a seedling.

Davidson’s brothers planted the tree “years ago” under the watchful eye of their mother, he said.

“She stood there and told them where to plant it and how to do it,” Davidson said. “She really loved that tree.”

The Virgin Mary image was discovered by the neighbors across the street more than a decade ago and has been a popular visitation sight for the faithful.

Davidson used to have trouble with crowds gathering around the popular tree, and now sees a few people a week praying to the image.

“I see men, women and young children come and revere (the Virgin Mary tree),” Davidson said. “They pray to her ... they’re dead sincere, just like I am when I go into the church.”