On the corner of South Finley Street and Dearing Street, a large oak tree stands with a fence eight feet out from its base. In the early nineteenth century, believed to be some time around 1832, Col. William H. Jackson deeded that land to the tree itself in hopes of preserving what he had come to love. The deed reads as follows: “for and in consideration of the great love I bear this tree and the great desire I have for its protection for all time, I convey entire possession of itself and all land within eight feet of the tree on all sides.”

First brought the attention of Athenians in 1890 by the Athens Weekly Banner, the Tree was said to bring Col. Jackson comfort and companionship when he was a boy. According to the anonymous article published in the Aug. 12 paper, the deed to the tree can be found in the local courthouse. Yet, people have searched tirelessly to find the deed to no avail.

The Tree that Owns Itself is a unique piece of Athens history that draws tourists from all over the place. One resident who has lived near the tree for the past six years claimed, “People come by here all the time to see and take pictures of the tree.” The Tree has been subject to many articles that have appeared in "Ripley’s Believe It or Not" on multiple occasions, as well as in other publications across the world. Author Gail Karwoski, a Georgia native, published a children’s book called "The Tree That Owns Itself: And Other Adventure Tails from Out of the Past."

The Tree that stands today is actually the son of the original tree. The original tree was uprooted by a storm in the mid-twentieth century. In 1946, the Junior Ladies Garden Club replanted a tree from an acorn of the original tree. The Tree was added to register of National Historic Places in 1975 and declared an Athens Historical Landmark in 1988.

While the deed has been lost to history, local residents today still respect the spirit of Col. Jackson’s wishes and leave the tree alone. The Junior Ladies Garden Club takes care of the Tree. Each Arbor Day they help a local elementary school plant a seedling from the Tree That Owns Itself so that its legacy may continue on into the future.