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Block-Catts House (c.1832)

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This is a contributing entry for Block-Catts House (c.1832) and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

Persimmons can be eaten fresh and in puddings, cakes, pies, and beverages. During the Civil War southerners, unable to get coffee, roasted persimmon seeds to make a substitute drink. The wood is hard and has been used for toothaches. The hard wood is also used for pool cues, heads of golf clubs, and shuttles for weaving.


Persimmon Tree in front of the Block Catts House in spring

Persimmon Tree in front of the Block Catts House in spring

Illustration of Persimmon branch and fruit by local artist Ann Bittick

Illustration of Persimmon branch and fruit by local artist Ann Bittick

Persimmon Tree in front of the Block Catts House in late winter

Persimmon Tree in front of the Block Catts House in late winter

Native to the eastern United States, the common persimmon is well known for its small fruit which it produces in the fall. Due to its relative slow growth, the bark of the persimmon tree is thick and scaly, usually dark brown or gray in color. The wood of the persimmon tree is very hard and dark, as well as termite resistant; however, because it takes almost a century of growth for its wood to be commercially viable, it’s not widely harvested. The wood is also a traditional treatment for toothaches, a remedy some modern herbalists still use to this day.

Branches In Time: Notable and Historic Trees of Old Washington Historic State Park. Little Rock, AR. Arkansas State Parks, 2001.

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Historic Washington State Park

Historic Washington State Park