Long Memories, a history of Andover in ten (or so) trees: Christmas Trees
A pair of Andover’s best local historians, Susan Lenoe and Gail Ralston, share stories of two significant Christmas displays.
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No blog focused on Andover trees would be complete without a discussion of historic Christmas trees. In two stories from the ACHC story vault, Susan Lenoe recounts the tale of Harriet Beecher Stowe and the town’s first Christmas tree while Gail Ralston shares memories of the 1990s-era Brickstone trees, said to be the tallest in the United States.
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Christmas Tree
by Susan Lenoe
Harriet Beecher Stowe moved to Andover in August of 1852 when her husband, Calvin Stowe, became a professor at Andover Theological Seminary. Her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was published in March of that year. An overnight success, the book brought the bloodcurdling realities of slavery into American homes.
With her newfound fame and the wide interest in her book, Mrs. Stowe’s life in Andover became a very public one. Famous abolitionists including William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth journeyed to Andover to visit her in her “Stone Cabin.” Her home, now located at the top of Bartlet Street, became a center of social activity.
Andover citizens were stirred to have this worldly, well-known writer as a neighbor. She could be seen shopping at Mr. Holt’s grocery store under the Baptist Church, or out drawing the elm trees that grew around campus. A trip to Europe in 1853 introduced her to the fashionable styles of the continent, which she enthusiastically embraced. She loved decorating and hosting parties at her handsome “country” residence.
In 1854, Stowe shocked neighbors by putting up a Christmas tree in her home. It isn’t clear what prompted her to follow this German holiday tradition that was made popular in England by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert but had not yet taken root in Calvinist America. Stowe likely spotted the picture of a Christmas tree that appeared in the 1850 edition of Godey’s Lady’s Book. She wrote for this popular magazine that featured both fiction and home and fashion tips. The picture is an American version of a famous engraving of Victoria and Albert and their family grouped around their Christmas tree. A few of the details, including the removal of the Queen’s crown, are changed to depict an American family scene.
Stowe’s efforts are described by Forrest Wilson in his book, Crusader in Crinoline: “She set up her first Christmas tree and decked the cabin with holly and coloured candles… then invited the Seminary faculty to a party. When the professors unwrapped their packages, agog to discover what treasures their well-travelled hostess had parted with, they discovered that every present was a humorous one.” Unfortunately no one, including Stowe herself, seems to have let us in on what the joke presents were, but this story does give us a glimpse of her playful nature.
A different description of a Stowe Christmas tree comes from Penne Restad’s book, Christmas in America. She writes that Stowe “allowed her daughter Hattie a fine spruce. They set it up upon the table, its branches touching the wall, and decorated it with apples, nuts, and four gilt stars and a winged fairy doll clothed in gauze and spangles, with a star on her forehead and a long gilt wand with a star on the end.” In the script Harriet Beecher Stowe, the Andover Years, author Juliet Mofford adds painted walnut shells and pinecones to the Stowe tree.
The Restad description is likely a different tree, earlier than the Andover tree and fancier, indeed! Simple decorations were more common at this time. Nuts and dried seed pods, candies, cookies, apples, oranges when they were available, homemade paper decorations, ribbons, and small toys hung from the early American Christmas tree. And the candles! They were carefully wired to the branches with ample space for the flame. If you have ever had the joy of viewing a candle-lit tree, you know that there is no sight more magical on a winter’s night.
What foresight our Harriet had when she introduced the Christmas tree to Andover, a tradition which remains the glorious centerpiece of the Christmas celebration!
The Magic of the Brickstone Christmas Tree
By Gail Ralston
The date was December, 1991. Driving north on Route 495, glancing over toward Andover’s Shawsheen area, a sight like no other glowed in the distance: a lighted Christmas tree rising majestically from Brickstone Square. I had to go see it up close.
I worked my way through the streets, turned into the parking lot, and parked my car. I can only describe the feeling as pure magic as I stood on the ground and looked up at nearly 100 feet of lights and ornaments.
For residents who never experienced this breathtaking sight, and for those who might want to re-live it, here is that Christmas tree’s story and how it grew into an annual tradition for 15 years.
The tree display began modestly and without too much fanfare in 1990, a collaboration of Marty Spagat of Brickstone Properties and company landscaper Mark Donohoe. That first year presented a 53-foot, 60-year-old Douglas fir that was bought from an area nursery, taking four workers about 150 hours to light and decorate.
The following year the search for the perfect tree took on an environmental twist, with Mr. Donohoe scoping out not only “the biggest tree” but one that was “a danger to its property.” Flying in an airplane a tree was spotted in Hampton Falls and the owner, Sue Ennabe, who otherwise would have had to pay to cut it down, was happy to have her tree become “the largest cut Christmas tree in the state.”
Fifteen thousand lights later, Mrs. Ennabe came to Andover to see “her” tree with her granddaughter, exclaiming “I don’t think there’s ever been a tree this beautiful.” Mr. Spagat agreed, calling the tree “mesmerizing,” saying “it’s like watching fire.”
By 1992, the Brickstone tree had “grown” into “the nation’s tallest.” The 93-foot Norway Spruce was 45 feet in diameter and weighed 15 tons, set up by an 80-ton crane. It was taller than the tree at Boston’s Prudential (45 feet), Walt Disney World (65 feet), the White House (75 feet), and even New York’s Rockefeller Center (85 feet).
The celebration had also grown.
That year Tom Bergeron, WBZ television personality, served as Master of Ceremonies and flipped the switch to turn on the 15,000 strung lights that illuminated 200 silver bulbs and 600 red bells and bows.
Co-sponsored by Brickstone tenant Marshall’s, Santa arrived and carols were sung. Toys were collected for the U.S. Marine Corps’ “Toys for Tots.”
As the popularity grew, the Brickstone tree went on everyone’s Christmas “must see” list. Added at the base of the tree were giant illuminated presents and an 11-foot sleigh. A 24-foot wreath adorned the Brickstone building.
Added to the festivities was Santa’s Village, with a petting zoo, carousel and a ride-on train for the kids. Hot chocolate and cookies were served. Chainsaw artist Hal MacIntosh carved wooden Christmas figures from the trunk of the previous year’s tree.
Couples even got engaged under the tree!
The tallest Brickstone Christmas tree topped out at 100 feet, 50 feet in diameter, and 30,000 lights. York Street residents probably planned their comings and goings around the steady stream of cars!
Sadly, by 1994, with a new management company and with renewed environmental and financial concerns, plans changed. At Brickstone Square, a 40-foot tree was bought and planted. The branches weren’t strong enough to hold ornaments and hesitating to cause Andover to lose their Christmas tree bragging rights, Mr. Spagat arranged for a 95-foot tree to be brought to Minuteman Park, visible along Interstate 93.
But somehow it wasn’t the same as standing under the Brickstone tree.
If I could have one wish this Christmas, I wish that the Christmas tree tradition could be brought back to Brickstone! Please, Santa!! I’ll be good – I promise!!!
Update: a 12-foot blue spruce planted by KS Partners in 2005 is now more than 50 feet tall. The tradition of lighting the giant tree was reinstated in 2018 with hopes of becoming an annual event.
As always, thanks for reading. This post represents the last of my planned series on the town’s trees and the people who planted, nurtured, and loved them. But there are many more stories to tell. Thanks to so many of you for the tips and suggestions for future posts. I’ll be back from time to time as I uncover more interesting details.
Jane
Gag gifts and a newfangled Xmas tree? HBS was badass. Good for her.
Combining the Stowe and Brickstone trees in one narrative is a true Christmas gift. Thank you. Having seen the Brickstone trees in their glory, I must agree that "magical" is the right description.