Help! broke vacuum tree on thermostat housing!

[Rc 415]

I was trying to remove the thermostat housing and in the process I broke off a port on the vacuum tree that is attached to the thermostat housing, then I tried to take the tree off and it wouldn't budge, only broke more... So I need to know if this is a necessary part in the vacuum system and if not where do I plug it off at?

broken tree

really old and messed up old housing

I had this thermostat housing that I was wanting to use, but dont know if I can because of the tree.

These 2 hoses connected, and then plugged into the top port on the tree, the bottom port was connected to the exhaust or somthing around there...