When a Jealous Neighbor Destroyed Our 200-Year-Old

Historic Home and Neighbor Tensions
Our home is part of an old manor divided into three residences, surrounded by five towering sequoias over 200 years old. When Barbara, our new neighbor, moved in after her parents died, she quickly grew bitter. She “held a grudge against ours—complaining about the shade, the falling leaves, and calling them unsafe” because a storm had toppled one of her own trees two years earlier.

Rising Conflict
Before we left for vacation in France, Barbara’s “passive-aggressive remarks about storms and the trees grew more frequent.” We chose to ignore her, hoping for peace, but the tension was building.

Destruction and Accusations
When we returned, we found one of our ancient sequoias had been “brutally chopped down, leaving behind a giant stump,” and two nearby oak trees crushed. Barbara claimed a storm caused the damage and sent us an $8,000 bill to cover tree removal and yard repairs.

Proof and Accountability
Without proof, we felt powerless—until I remembered the wildlife camera set up to watch nesting owls. The footage was clear: “Barbara had destroyed the tree herself.” With this evidence, we confronted her, and she finally faced the truth, though our beloved tree was lost.