Residents in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont are flocking to the Willow Creek Health Club to see an aging tree some believe bears an image of their late Mayor Donald E. Stephens. The speculations are built on an image created naturally on the bark of a tree that the former mayor had protected two times from being cut down.

The image has fueled several speculations in the village Stephens ran since its inception 51 years ago.

Stephen's grandson and general manager of Donald E. Stephens Convention Center revealed to the Journal and Topics that the tree was supposed to be downed 16 years ago when the health club was built, and then again after few years when it showed signs of wilting.

"I truly think there is a strong resemblance and if there was a way he could watch over us, he definitely would be," he said.

Local authorities have placed barricades around the tree, to protect it.