i don't recall seeing a post on big trees other than the sequoia conversation which I don't know where to find....anyhow I grew up with this monster locust growing outside my bedroom window and thought I'd share its magnificence with you...it's about 20' in circumference and it might be ugly but it's coming out in leaf for another year....
Wow the bark on that looks like it could grind something, looks sharp! Got some black locust mysef from a neighbor across the street, part of a tree rotting away fell down on his fence. I got to accepting the work and got to keep the wood. I see some burl at the bottom of that. Same with mine, there was quite a bit. Unfortunately it was just a grab and go job so salvaging something was minimal. But firewood out of that will likely be wonderful on the more rare teen winter night here.
that is one big tree, and so close to the house.! Our weather doesn't allow for big trees to be so close to the house, that is not unless you are prepared to vacate your home during the hurricanes and nor'easters. If that tree were to fall on that house, it would be split wide open.
You'd probably have enough wood in those trees to rebuild your house extremely well. Talk about rot resistance beams and boards there. While I haven't heard of black locust as lumber, seems feasible if they had good quantities, heavy stuff though.
We used to cut 8' posts and make split rail fence--I'd use the machete to strip the bark---that fence lasted 30+years...
That reminds me we also built a fence from repurposed railroad boxcar panels--then my dad creosoted the panels---talk about longevity!! (and you could smell it from across the yard too!) We really didn't like the neighbors...
