On a recent trip to New York City, I visited Rockefeller Center to see the iconic festive evergreen that has become a holiday tradition in 'The Big Apple,' signalling the arrival of the Christmas season.
This year’s tree is a 90-year-old Norway spruce, weighing 14 tons and towering over 80 feet above the famous plaza. It was officially lit on Nov. 30, delighting viewers with its 50,000 multi-coloured lights and three-dimensional star containing three-million Swarovski crystals.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition began in 1931 and for the last three decades has been the responsibility of Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze.
Each year, he searches for the perfect tree and then arranges for its transport and decoration in preparation for the grand lighting ceremony. This year’s tree is from Queensbury in New York State and was a tree Pauze just happened to notice on his way to see another tree that was submitted for consideration. The trees are traditionally donated and following the holiday season, are milled for lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Learning about this New York City tradition made me wonder about our own Christmas tree tradition here in Orillia. Unlike the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the City of Orillia celebrates the beginning of the Christmas season with a live tree; not one that is cut down each year.
This wasn’t always the case. In the past, Orillia, too, would annually cut trees down to erect and decorate in front of the Orillia Opera House. This tradition changed in the early 1970s because of one outspoken community member and conservationist.
“It was my dad who wrote a letter to city council suggesting that an evergreen tree be planted at the downtown corner, instead of cutting down trees each year,” explained Nancy Noakes-Morrison.
Noakes-Morrison’s father, Fred Noakes, was well-known in the community as a photographer and conservationist.
“He was outspoken, in a good way,” noted Noakes-Morrison. “He regularly wrote to city council about many issues. When it came to the environment and conservation, he was a bit ahead of this time. His love of nature was what inspired him to suggest that city council stop cutting down trees and help save our forests.”
City council approved the suggestion, which was also supported by many residents as well as the Orillia Horticultural Society at the time. A blue spruce was purchased and planted.
Over the past 50 or so years, the tree has grown from about 15 feet to the landmark that now towers over the flagpole at the corner of West and Mississaga streets.
When the tree was originally planted, a local newspaper covered the story and printed a photo with the caption, “Fred’s tree,” which is how the tree was referred to in the Noakes’ household.
That is, until Noakes-Morrison met and married Pat Morrison. She learned that in the Morrison household, the same tree is known as “Joe’s tree.”
It turns out that the backhoe operator who dug the hole for the tree was Pat’s father, ‘Papa Joe Morrison,’ who at the time worked for Bailey Construction.
“It’s a happy coincidence that’s tied our families together,” said Noakes-Morrison. “Now we call it the Joe-Fred tree!”
Year after year, the tree has served as the focal point for the annual candlelight parade, kicking off the Christmas season in Orillia.
“We would always take our kids to the street lighting parade, ending up at the Christmas tree all lit up,” said Noakes-Morrison. “Besides being a fun way to start the Christmas season, it has given us an opportunity to enjoy memories of Fred and Joe.”
Noakes-Morrison and her family are hopeful that the tree will live on for a long time. Like her dad, she is aware of the importance of preserving nature.
“With the climate crisis, it’s even more important to save our trees and stop ruining our forests.”
The City of Orillia is committed to preserving the tree. In cooperation with the Downtown Orillia Management Board, the municipality wants to ensure the Christmas tree lighting continues to take place.
Wendy Fairbairn, the manager of the Opera House, explained that the tree will receive extra care as part of a project (approved in the 2020 City of Orillia budget) to beautify a portion of the Orillia Opera House property along the corner of Mississaga Street West and West Street North.
“The lighting strands will be removed from the tree and an arborist will examine the tree to ‘spruce’ it up as necessary,” said Fairbairn. “The lights will be replaced in the fall to give the tree some time to recover from the weight of the strands over the years. This will become a yearly process to help ensure the health of the tree.”
As much as the Rockefeller Christmas tree is a stunning sight in New York City, I believe the Christmas tree tradition in Orillia is exceptional in its own way and may be even more meaningful – all because of the foresight and actions of a caring and determined member of the community.
