‘Sword in the Stump’ removed from Wallhaven neighborhood in Akron

If King Arthur comes to Akron, he’s going to have trouble finding Excalibur.

“The Sword in the Stump,” a local landmark at West Exchange Street and Elmdale Avenue in the Wallhaven neighborhood, has been taken down.

A two-man crew from Haymaker Tree & Lawn Service removed the rotting stump for the city Thursday morning.

“There’s a lot of people asking about it,” crew member Justin Howard said before grinding the giant stump into a pile of splintered wood.

Neighbors and motorists stopped to inquire what was happening as crew member Aaron Bowersox lifted wood and dirt into a grappling truck.

Howard estimated that the project would take about three hours Thursday. Another crew was expected to smooth out the site Friday, he said.

“I was wondering what they were doing down there,” neighbor Pam Huff said.

She fondly recalls the 150-year-old white ash tree that used to loom over the intersection.

“It was a very distinctive tree,” Huff said.

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In 2002, residents led a public campaign to save the white ash when the city announced plans to remove it for construction of a curb ramp.

“I remember when they originally were going to cut it down, my daughter went down and she was part of a little protest group demanding that they not take down the tree,” Huff said. “She was probably about 12.”

The neighbors prevailed, but the victory was temporary.

In 2015, the city finally cut down the tree as a safety precaution because of decay from emerald ash borers.

Akron artist Michael Marras, who had long admired the tree, turned the stump into artwork in September 2016 when he secretly installed the sword. Neighbors were mystified one day to wake up and see Excalibur.

According to Arthurian legend, a magical sword was embedded in a stone and engraved with the inscription: “Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England.”

Arthur, then a boy, removed Excalibur with ease when no one else could.

“The Sword in the Stump” became a public attraction, and was even featured in the new edition of Akron on Deck playing cards.

Someone stole the sword in January 2020. It was missing for eight months until Everett Walker, 8, found it discarded in a wooded area about a quarter-mile from the stump.

It was returned to its rightful spot and bolted into place.

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“It’s sad that the stump’s going down,” said Brian Simon, an Akron firefighter who has lived in the Wallhaven neighborhood for decades. “It’s been enjoyable over the years watching people come get pictures of the sword.”

Simon has a picture of his family standing in front of the old tree. He texted his daughter, now a Los Angeles resident, about the stump’s demise. She was a baby when the picture was taken.

“She’s sad now,” he said.

But he understands why the stump was removed.

“It was definitely starting to rot,” he said. “I guess at that point they figured it was time to take it out.”

The sword was temporarily placed in the gravel driveway of a nearby home. It wasn’t immediately clear what would happen to Excalibur or if Arthur’s magical sword might be installed at another location.

“It was kind of cool to have the sword in the stump,” Huff said.

“Even within the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen people get their picture taken there,” Simon said. “It’s just sad that it’s going to be gone.”

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Sword in the Stump’ removed from Wallhaven in Akron