The Oak tree is one of the most loved trees in the world, and with good reason. It’s a symbol of strength, morale, resistance and knowledge. Throughout history, the Oak has been represented in different mythologies and sometimes linked to powerful gods. The oak is considered a cosmic storehouse of wisdom embodied in its towering strength. It grows slowly, but surely at its own rate. Oak is often associated with honor, nobility, and wisdom as well thanks to its size and longevity. Oaks are known to easily surpass 300 years of age making it a powerful life-affirming symbol.

When Tennessee Department of Transportation began a highway widening project in rural Greenville, one of the affected residents had an objection. The proposed path of the highway was designed to go through an area of their property, where a 250 year old Oak tree stands tall and strong, bearing countless memories of historical events and family gatherings, and the owners had to act in order to preserve the fabled tree. They took their conviction to the state capital - Nashville, TN and after educating the authorities on the importance of the Oak tree, were given Historical Significance exemption and successfully rerouted the highway to protect the natural landmark!

To commemorate the victory in preserving history and property, Appalachian Ironworks was commissioned to design and fabricate an entrance gate, inspired by the majestic Oak tree.

The craftsmen began the task of fabricating the main trunk, branches and support structure for the gate from steel bar and tube, while the 1,700 leaves, which decorate the crown of the tree were being cut. Once the main frame was complete, the painstaking process of welding and grinding that created the texture of the trunk occurred. The leaves were than individually positioned and welded into place to complete the fabrication, which left only one last, but very important step - protecting the gate from corrosion. In order to afford longevity, durability and meet the aesthetic preferences of the owner, duplex coating system was chosen to satisfy both needs and budget. The masterfully crafted gate's design allowed for the free flow of zinc, despite the need for splice dip and special handling practices, due to the kettle constrains of the galvanizing facility of choice.

The synergistic effect that paint and galvanizing have together will simultaneously increase the life expectancy of both coatings and increase the time to first maintenance of the fabrication drastically. Time to first maintenance for galvanizing alone in this atmosphere is over 100 years and the paint system used would last close to 8 years. With the two coating systems working together, the time to first maintenance on the paint is closer to 12 years with galvanizing around 150 years. This combination immensely reduces the life cycle cost of the fabrication and helps reduce the total carbon footprint as there will be less need for maintenance overall. This is a truly sustainable use of materials that will not only preserve the artistic creation, but also inspire the next generation to carry the legacy of their predecessors and be stewards of the land.