This oak tree on the site of the old James Ernest White homestead on Sarratt Avenue came crashing down early Friday, nearly flattening a home. While the damage still was being assessed Friday, no one was hurt. The property's owner said things wouldn't be the same without the tree there. (Ledger photo / TIM GULLA) The massive oak outside Melissa Jackson’s home on Sarratt Avenue stood proud and tall and it no doubt witnessed a lot of Cherokee County’s history.

Jackson and some of her relatives believe the oak, which measured a whopping 23 feet in diameter at its base, first took root at least two centuries ago.

“If the tree could talk, I’m sure it could tell some stories,” Jackson said.

Without any warning whatsoever, however, and without the assistance of any foul weather, that grand old oak came crashing down early Friday and came close to flattening Jackson’s home. While it looked strong and healthy on the outside and its green leaves gave no indication of sickness, it was obvious Friday during daylight hours that the massive tree had internal injuries.

Its trunk was almost completely hollow and no one knew it.

Jackson said she was working on a computer early Friday when she heard a very loud noise and then felt her home shake.

The first thing that came to her mind was that someone was trying to force their way into her home.

“I never thought the big tree would have fallen,” she said.

Jackson was waiting Friday for tree cutters to remove the fallen tree so any damage to her home could be assessed. Several branches rested on her roof and against the side of the home, nearly blocking ingress and egress from her side door. Acorns from the fallen tree covered the ground.

“We just don’t know until we get it off the house how damaged it is,” she said.

Jackson is the third generation of her family to reside in the Sarratt Avenue home where the tree fell. The tree had been on the property of the James Ernest White homestead for as long as anyone can remember and both Jackson and her mother had many fond memories of it from their childhoods.

“It’s just not the same without the big tree,” Jackson said.