By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

Throughout the summer and the recent fall, passersby on Center Street in Kennett Square could not help being struck by the appearance of a large tree spread out and showing its roots at the Magnolia Street corner.

The talk around town was that it looked like an octopus, but it was a puzzle among public viewers how it came to be and why it is there.

The creator of the attraction is Peter Davis, a 58-year-old borough resident who, throughout his life, has been associated with trees and wood. Davis said he is friends with Tracy Mann and Matt Slaybaugh, the occupants of the property on which the tree sits. He has been caring for the property for years, he said.

Davis said Mann, who volunteers at the Kennett Library, told him she wanted to hold a “book exchange.” That is an event where people “bring a book and take a book.”

The site of the exchange was to be their land adjacent to their house on Magnolia. As Davis surveyed the site, it occurred to him that it needed some significant work because the trees were dying fast and the environment was declining.

“It used to be a forest. But ants are eating the trees. It’s a different yard, and it’s a lot of sun,” he explained.

He said he was specifically drawn to one large tree that was down and dead but had not yet started to rot.

“I decided I better get working on it,” he said.

That is when his spiritual orientation combined with his strong belief in Mann’s book exchange influenced his plans. He said he believes the tree has a selfhood that would dictate its own fate. He also believes in roots – both human and agricultural.

“You can go anywhere in a book. When you read a book you build your roots,” he said.

To honor its structure and his love of books, he set about to dig the whole tree up, including the roots. That was in April of 2024, the day after the eclipse of the sun.

He had a shovel and he started to dig. He dug and dug for months. People stopped and talked to him.

“I have seen so many people all over the country that have seen this. They have been so supportive,” he said.

Incredibly, as he dug day after day, he said he did not encounter much in the way of difficulties.

He said at that time, “You can learn a lot about life from a tree.”

Since the time the tree was completely unearthed, he has raised it on wooden supports and trimmed back sections that intruded outside the property. At one point, he cut a slab that might be appropriate for a piece of furniture later on.

In order to raise the massive tree from the ground, he used a pneumatic jack.

 “I have not had one step of this working against me. I’m just following what the tree tells me,” Davis said.

He said people asked him what will go on top, and what is the black thing that was recently there. He said perhaps it will house a police call box, currently, he has placed a statue of a kraken there.

A kraken is a legendary Scandinavian octopus sea monster that sailors historically feared would pull down their ships. Appropriately, the etymology of kraken in the Norwegian dictionary is krake “a malformed or overgrown or crooked tree.”

He said weeks ago that he is not sure what the future of his work will be. He is hopeful that it remains on the property and is there for the book exchange. However, in recent weeks the tree, which he had outfitted with Christmas lights, has been shrouded in plastic sheets.

He has not returned calls to say what the current future is of the tree or if he has encountered accusations of violations.

One thing he is sure of is that the tree will  remain where it is as long as possible and will provide the setting for the book exchange.

“It’s all for Tracy and Matt. It’s all for them,” he said.