Crowds have become burden for family seeking return to 'normal life'
By ALAN MELSON / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - After providing shade for decades, a tree in the front yard of an Oak Cliff home began attracting people last fall for an entirely different reason.
The majestic 50-foot tree in the 2900 block of South Edgefield Avenue boasts what many say is a likeness of the Virgin Mary, a 4-foot-tall image that has drawn thousands of people from around the world seeking spiritual enrichment and healing.
Now, homeowner Gilbert Peña hopes his tree can continue to help others – but at a new location. This week, Mr. Peña elected to list the tree on online auction site eBay because the crowds have become a burden. He said the decision was tough, but in the best interests of his family and neighborhood.
“We had offers before, but turned them away,” Mr. Peña said. “Now we feel like we're always under a spotlight. We want to go back to our normal life.”
The Peñas enlisted the help of iSold It, a local franchise of a chain that helps people sell items online. Store owner David Goldstein said the Peñas didn’t know what type of tree they have and he was challenged in figuring out how to market it, but he was happy to help them.
“They feel like something special has happened to them, but at the same time they are trying to reclaim their privacy,” Mr. Goldstein said. “Their front yard has had so many visitors that it's literally been worn away and is just mud.”
In early November, Mr. Peña said, his young daughters began telling tales of the tree “crying.” Two weeks later, his brother-in-law noticed the image in the tree’s bark while sitting in the front yard – and Mr. Peña’s wife summoned the neighbors.
"Once they saw it, they began crying and worshiping, and said it was the Virgin Mary,” Mr. Peña said.
Calling it a “miracle,” he began to tell family and friends, and media accounts led to streams of visitors. Mr. Peña said people told him they journeyed from all over the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico, and from as far away as Korea and Vietnam.
“Since the first appearance to now (we’ve had) about 4,000 people,” he said. “People have been calling me saying it showed up on TV in Spain."
Mr. Peña said initially the attention was a blessing, but then the crowds grew, arriving at all hours and taking “souvenirs” of limbs and bark, while leaving a mounting shrine of candles, flowers and other religious mementos.
“We were doing something for the community – for people to look at something that hadn't been heard of here in Oak Cliff,” he said. “But it put us in a dark place. We couldn’t go outside like we used to. People were always here, wanting to take pictures of us.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, no one had put down the requested initial bid of $5,000. Mr. Peña said he will use the proceeds to repair the yard and to donate to the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and their church.
Mr. Goldstein said the winning bidder must pay for all removal costs, including the stump. A local tree-moving company told him the tree still could be relocated despite its size.
“It's not cheap, but it can be done,” he said.
Mr. Peña said he has a smaller tree in his yard that bears a similar likeness, which he plans to keep “for the community.” But he hopes the main tree’s removal will help restore his yard and his life.
“I'm just going to bring it back to the way it was before,” he said. “I will probably plant another tree there.”
DEBORAH TURNER / Al Día
Visitors began leaving mementos at the tree in November.