WORLDS BIGGEST GROWING CHRISTMAS TREE WAS IN PORTLAND - 1948 Tonight December 22, 1948 Portland Mayor-elect Dorothy McCullough Lee switched on the lights to the Worlds Biggest Growing Christmas Tree in Laurelhurst Park at 6:30pm. The giant tree stood 138 feet tall with a 64 foot spread, near the intersection of S.E. 39th Ave. & Stark Street. Electric wiring and 300 red, blue and green lights were donated by electrical wholesale warehouses, while power was donated by P.G.E. The Portland Fire Dept. assisted in stringing the lights, all awhile Tree Surgeons oversaw the operation. The huge Christmas Tree was on display until New Years. The Portland Jaycees sponsored the tree decoration. Ormond A. Binford, Christmas illumination director, stated the tree lighting would be an annual tradition. On December 16, 1949 Portlands claim for the tallest Christmas Tree, by the Jaycees, lit up an even taller tree in Laurelhurst Park, approximately 161 feet at 7:00pm. It was dubbed the Best Tree on The Coast. The Christmas Tree was located in the childrens play park, near S.E. 39th & Stark. Portland City Commissioner, Fred L. Peterson threw a switch, turning on 350 colored lights. On December 16, 1950 Laurelhurst Parks traditional Christmas Tree, no longer the biggest anywhere was activated by Portland City Commissioner, William A. Bowes at 8:00pm. The Jaycees had gone back to lighting the original 138 foot tree with help from the Portland Fire Dept. The 25-watt bulbs were donated by Chown Hardware Co., Central Supply Co., North Coast Electric Co. & Gilbert Brothers, Inc. Tree scalers furnished by Paul-Lundquist Co. On December 15, 1951 The Portland Jaycees, P.G.E. & The Portland Fire Dept. dealt with a cold rainy tree and power breakdown, barely making the 4:30pm lighting ceremonies. Rev. Thomas T. Tobin, Chancellor of The Portland Catholic Archdiocese and Rev. O. Leroy Walter, President of The Portland Council of Churches, pulled the switch at the base of the 165 foot tree. Four strings of lights, out of 15 went on. After the ceremony, crews went back to connecting the other strings. On December 13, 1952 there was a Northwest power shortage because the Columbia River was running low. With Christmas on the way, Boy Scouts had canvassed Portland homes, giving out window stickers that read: Im Saving Electricity -- Are You? The Jaycees got around this order with a gasoline generator, muffled to avoid disturbing nearby residents. Portland Mayor-elect, Fred L. Peterson cranked the engine to light the last Laurelhurst Park Christmas Tree. The generator was shut down nightly at 10:00pm.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:08:43 +0000
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