Christmas Tree Lowered into Position at Campus Martius Park
It was an incredible sight as the 55 foot pine, flatbed trucked in from Westchester County, New York was lifted by a gigantic crane… spinning against the wind — as huge swaths of pine needle covered branches fell to the pavement…
…and was swung into position over the Campus Martius Park fountain. Crews at each corner tugged on cables to prevent the beast from swinging — and spinning…
…these brave (perhaps overly courageous) workers crawled beneath the leviathan, drilling a hole in the trunk to accept the center post…
…the cable men strained at their stations, as the tree struggled against them. Something right out of Jurassic Park. Then the crews (in climbing harnesses) ascended the monster tree, cutting the ropes that held back the limbs. As each girdle of rope was slashed, the limbs fell with a huge WHOOSH and the air was filled with the scent of the needles and sap. They would then climb higher and higher still, releasing limb ropes as they went.
The Official LIGHTING of the Christmas tree will be on November 18th — coinciding with the opening of the ice skating rink.
Another great post, Jeff.
This is the largest tree Detroit has every had too!
I wonder who that tree pissed off so bad that they saw fit to kill it and leave the corpse in the town square.
I am all for cities investing in a reusable tree. Spray it with pine scent if need be.