The Idaho Christmas Tree is now in place in front of the Statehouse.
On Monday, Idaho Department of Lands crews sawed down the tree from its home on Manitou Avenue, in east Boise. The 45-foot Blue Spruce was donated by long-time Boise resident Zelma Foster.
Zelma and her husband, Jack, rescued the sapling near Clear Creek, just north of Lowman, when the area was logged in the mid-1950s to make room for what is now the Park Creek Campground. It has been growing in Fosters’ front yard ever since.
“It only stood about one or two feet high, when we first planted it back around 1958,” Zelma said.
“It makes me feel good,” she added, as she watched crews cut down the tree and prepare to transport it. “We kind of wanted to get rid of it –- and it’s nice that it’s going to a good purpose.”
Idaho Department of Transportation crews hauled the tree through town and helped place it in its stand in front of the Idaho Statehouse late Monday morning. Boise City Police officers helped crews escort the tree to its destination.
Boise Crane Inc. donated the use of its crane to stand the tree in place.
On Tuesday, Department of Administration's Facilities Services personnel will begin stringing approximately 12,000 LED lights on the tree.
Idaho Governor “Butch” Otter and First Lady Lori Otter are scheduled to attend the Statehouse Tree Lighting Ceremony which will begin at 5:30 p.m. next Monday, November 28th.
