Following the uprooting of the tree, the university divided portions of the tree into large slabs and wood planks, and the university Chemistry department treated them to help preserve the slabs. After the wood had been treated, university staff members created various items from the slabs. One such creation, pictured above, was the bench created by Mike Christopherson, a professor in the Department of Art and Design. The bench first debuted to the public upon its completion on July 23, 2003, at an art exhibition at a local library showcasing the towns rich heritage. The bench is adorned with a laser-cut image of the original Council Oak Tree on the surface of the seat. The image, based on a historic photograph from the university archives, was used by Christopherson “so viewers would see exactly what the tree looked like before it was hit by lightning.”