MOVING HISTORY FORWARD: The Community Christmas Tree tradition

I recently did research for the Shotwell family’s history-themed Christmas show at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Among the long-standing Lake City yuletide traditions I explored was the Coeur d’Alene’s Community Christmas tree. Here is what I found.

In 1917, Huntington Taylor, manager of the Edward Rutledge Lumber Mill, started the tradition by having a tall tree erected at Fourth and Sherman. On Christmas Eve that same year, the base of the tree became home to another tradition — a caroling program performed by groups of students from the city’s schools and churches.

The tradition of erecting a tree and caroling at the intersection continued until 1942, when World War II restrictions paused the lighting of the tree. In 1945, the C.O. Sowder family’s yard donated a “very symmetrical tree” decorated with colored lights, and the tradition of youth caroling was resumed. Traffic congestion at Sherman resulted in the community tree lighting being moved. In 1948, a committee decorated a 60-foot fir tree on Tubbs Hill with colorful lights. The community caroling took place near the tree, and a public address system broadcast the carols toward the city center. Many watched the tree lighting from their cars in the city parking lot.

In 1951, the City Council approved placing the community tree at the entrance to the west-side alleyway on South Fourth. Caroling programs immediately moved to the new location. In December of 1952, the city council was approached by a group of women representing the community’s churches who were part of a movement to “bring Christ back to Christmas.” They requested permission to have a nativity scene placed near the community tree. The council looked favorably on the request, and Ronnie Yandt constructed a manger scene with lumber donated by Potlatch Forests. Life-size figurines were crafted and installed by L.J. Bell, and the structure was positioned on the tree's north side. It would become the backdrop for the caroling programs and even the annual arrival of Santa Claus.

The Community Tree lasted on South Fourth for another two more years. In May 1955, the city council deemed it too dangerous to continue locating it there due to increased traffic.

The same year, Earl Somers led a group that proposed placing a permanent tree in the city parking lot adjacent to Mullan Park (now McEuen Park). His request was approved, and the city’s Street and Alley Committee approved placement of a living tree in a spot in a parking stall at the foot of Fourth Street. In November of 1957, a Norway spruce was planted at the foot of Fourth Street with the help of businessmen wishing to keep an extension of Fourth Street from extending south and encroaching on Tubbs Hill.

Beginning in 1972, the now 65-foot tree would start to carry the title of “Freedom Tree” for much of each year in honor of a local Prisoner of War, Air Force Capt. Fred McMurray and all other Prisoners of War.

As it grew taller, the Community Tree became harder to decorate. But each year, an attempt was made to dress it in lights during the Christmas season with help from organizations such as the Hydromaniacs, the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, and/or the City Parks Department. The start of The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s tree lighting festival in 1989 moved activities several blocks west. In March 2013, the “Freedom Tree” was cut down to make way for a new parking garage, but The Resort’s lighting festival and parade still attract tens of thousands to downtown the day after Thanksgiving, keeping the traditions alive.

Please consider joining the Museum of North Idaho to help Move History Forward. Call 208-664-3448 today!

    A photo printed on the front page of the December 23, 1952, edition of the Coeur d’Alene Press. The cutline read: “Come All Ye Faithful - CAMP FIRE GIRLS SPREAD CHRISTMAS 'GOOD WILL'”. Shown at the base of the community yule tree is the new Nativity Scene arranged by the local Council of United Church Women. Several locals contributed to the project.