The official Idaho Capitol Christmas Tree will be cut on November 21st from the residence of Zelma Foster at 2206 South Manitou Avenue in Boise’s East End.
Zelma and her husband, Jack, rescued the Blue Spruce sapling near Clear Creek -- just north of Lowman -- when the area was logged in the mid-1950s to make room for what is now Park Creek Campground, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Administration.
It has been growing on Manitou Avenue ever since, reaching a height of nearly 45 feet.
Several state agencies help in the joint-effort relocation effort. The Department of Lands will saw the tree down; the Idaho Department of Transportation will haul the tree through Boise and help place it in its stand; and Boise City Police will escort the tree to its destination.
Inland Crane Inc. is donating the use of its crane.
Cutting is set to begin about 9:00 a.m. The tree’s journey to the Statehouse could begin sometime around 12:00 noon.
Early the following morning, the Department of Administration’s Facilities Services workers will begin stringing some 12,000 LED lights on the tree.
The Statehouse Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., Monday, November 28th on the Statehouse front steps.
