Oakland Christmas Tree Rivals Famed Rockefeller Center
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The Oakland Christmas Tree towers an estimated 50 feet high. The tree was planted by a Cub Scout Troop in 1960. The photo from last year’s ceremony shows the tree last Christmas.
OAKLAND –Rockefeller Center in New York City is world renowned for its Christmas Tree Lighting and its giant tree each year. The tree in the Rockefeller Center Plaza and the one on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol typically stand 60-80 feet tall. These are cut and put into place each year. But you don’t have to travel that far to experience a really BIG Christmas tree. The Oakland Christmas Tree towers over the downtown area year-round and is estimated to be 50 feet tall and still growing.
The Oakland Christmas Tree Lighting, part of the Down Home Christmas celebration, is scheduled Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4:30 p.m. just after the Christmas Parade and photos and visits with Santa. The tree is located on grounds of the Oakland Public Library at 324 Holly Street.
The tree was planted by an Oakland Cub Scout Troop around 1960. According to then-cub scout member and current Chamber Board Member Mike Robinson, the tree was approximately five feet tall and was transplanted from the Julius and Irma Miller homesite. Scout members who participated in the tree planting included Bill Gillett, Leon Brevard, Gary Worsham, Gerald Ford, Tommy Holland and Mike Robinson. Katherine Brevard was the troop leader.
“The kids who lived there then got in trouble with Miss Irma Miller. They tied a pony to the tree and pulled it up. We replanted it. The tree came from behind the Miller Home where we dug it up,” Robinson recalled.
The tree, planted on the grounds of the current Oakland Public Library, flourished after finally getting its roots in the ground. For years, the tree had lights and served as the official Town Christmas Tree. At some point, it became “too big” to decorate, but today is again the Town Christmas Tree.
With the help of Town Alderwoman and Chamber Board member Stephanie Patterson and her husband, Kel, the tree was restored with Christmas lights and decorations last year. This year, Gray Power Supply is helping to add additional lighting. The Chamber is working to add decorations each year. The under canopy is large enough to walk under and many families lined up under the tree for selfies after the lighting last year.
