SAUGUS — The iconic copper beech tree on the lawn of the Saugus Iron Works was cut down Thursday afternoon, leaving a large hole where it once stood.

The National Historic Site announced the removal on Facebook Wednesday, giving residents a chance to say goodbye to the tree.

The site said that after years of trying to preserve the copper beech, it had to be removed due to “extensive damage and disease.”

The tree is one of many beech trees hit by beech leaf disease. According to the Ohio Cuyahoga County research site, 30% of 263 tracked American beech trees have died of the disease since 2014, with “severe losses” occurring in recent years.

The copper beech at the iron works not only suffered from beech leaf disease, but also beech bark disease and other fungi.

Mushrooms growing on the bark of the tree were visible, showing dead sections, and many branches were bare. Sections of bark were also peeling from the tree.

According to the site, all the branches on the lower third of the tree have died over several years. After being evaluated, park staff concluded that removal was the only safe option.

During the town’s 250th celebration, a branch had fallen from the tree, hitting resident and Saugus Historical Society president Laura Eisener and injuring her. Eisener, who was there to watch the tree be removed, shared that she wished the tree could be preserved, but also understood it was a serious safety risk.

The National Park Service installed cabling in the past to stabilize the tree’s main stems, placed mulch to prevent soil compaction and root damage, and also applied fungicides and nematicides. Despite all of this, the disease still progressed.

Beech leaf disease was first identified in Ohio in 2012, causing damage to the leaves of beech trees. The first detection in Massachusetts was in 2020 in Plymouth County. Researchers have found that the disease can infect American beech, European beech, and Oriental beech trees.