Photo evidence shows Toomer's oaks not as old as originally thought

This photo donated by George E. McWhorter Jr., a former Auburn University student, shows the corner void of large trees. The photo was dated Jan. 9, 1937. (Auburn University photo)

AUBURN, Al.
The Toomer's oaks website, where the Trees Task Force has been updating the status of the poisoned trees posted new information this week saying the trees may not be as old as originally thought.
The live oaks had been believed to be around 130 years old, but a report that surveyed multiple photos from various sources indicates they actually may be somewhere around 70 years old.
The trees were poisoned with Spike 80 DF late in 2010, and have been losing foliage since. Auburn officials and fans have worried over the fate of the iconic tress, which have been a site of celebrations - over football wins and other victories - for decades.
According to the update on the trees, a group of Auburn faithful conducted research after seeing some older photos and believe the oaks were planted between 1937 and 1939, but most likely in 1937.

This photo from "Auburn, A Pictorial History of the Loveliest Village" by Mickey Logue and Jack Sims shows the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue around 1899. (Auburn University photo)

 An iconic photo from "Auburn, A Pictorial History of the Loveliest Village" by Mickey Logue and Jack Sims, which is believed to have been taken in 1899, shows a tree at the corner.
"The large tree in the center of this photo is not likely a live oak. Even if it was a Live Oak, it's too close to the corner to be one of the current Toomer's Oaks, and recent research has revealed that this tree is not present in later photographs," according to the report.
The report goes on to include several photos showing that the corner had been graced by large trees throughout its history until 1937. A photo donated to the university by George E. McWhorter Jr. taken on Jan. 9, 1937, shows the corner seemingly bare of large trees.
A photo taken a year later, after Auburn's win against Michigan State in the Orange Bowl, shows very young trees at the corner.
"... It is unlikely the trees were planted at different times. This young tree is about 8 to 12 feet tall and would be 6 to 10 years old, depending upon how it was grown. Aged oaks are definitely not present," the report says.
Someone using the name Al from Dadeville called the Paul Finebaum show to confess to the crime, and Harvey Updyke was charged with two counts of criminal mischief, two counts of desecrating a venerable object, and two counts of a state law that includes making it unlawful to damage, vandalize, or steal any property on or from an animal or crop facility. In November, Updyke's lawyer requested a change of venue to Birmingham.