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 Living Christmas Tree - Troy, Montana Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 48° 27.873 W 115° 53.515
11U E 581912 N 5368528
The Troy's Christmas Tree is near the post office, you just can not miss it.
Waymark Code: WMT2CQ
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 09/13/2016
Views: 3
In a time when Troy experienced several large fires destroying major industries and the closing of the Railroad Freight Point, the town was at an all time low. To renew optimism and hope the Troy Christmas Tree was strung with lights and continues to be lit even to today. In 2016, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration will mark the lighting of the Troy Christmas Tree's 85th anniversary.
This tree was for many years the "Largest Living Christmas Tree" in the nation. Not too sure of the actual status of this claim today, however Troy laid claim to this interesting fact for decades.
The sign that we photographed is transcribed as follows:
Our Troy Christmas Tree
The early boom period for Troy ended in 1926 and 1927 when the Great Northern Railway closed its division yard and fires destroyed the mining and sawmill facilities.
Despite the following hardships on the town, citizens continued to encourage optimism in the community. In December 1931, this Ponderosa pine was wired with lights by the civic improvement committee and the Troy Commercial Club.
Periodic replacements of lights, wire strands and electrical upgrades have maintained this cheery exhibit.
Our tree has been lit every Christmas season since 1931, except in a national blackout period during WWII.
Our tree is greater than 150 years old, and over 80 feet tall. Troy can boast that this is the nation's largest Living Christmas Tree.
Sources: Jim Calvi and other local citizens
Sign Completed by: TACA, 48°North Engraving
and assistance from the City of Troy
Funding by: Montana Community Foundation
There is another sign found on a cache page, it is transcribed as follows:
TOWN of TROY
Largest Living Christmas Tree
In the last 1920s. the town of Tory suffered a series of economic hardships . The area and the people became depressed after the loss of the railroad Freight Division Point. Fires then destroyed the Snowstorm Silver and Lead Mines concentrator, and a year later the Sandpoint Lumber Pole Sawmill.
In 1931 the Troy Commercial Club and the Civic Improvements Committee gave some encouragement and ad optimism to the community when they wired a large Ponderosa Pine tree with Christmas Lights.
The more than 150 year old tree is about 133 feet tall with an outside diameter of 12 feet. The community boasted that it was the “Largest Living Christmas Tree” in the country.
Through the years, the large tree has had many upgrades to its light and has been lit every year at Christmas time since 1931. Because of a national blackout period, only during WWII was it unlit.
Today with the help from the City of Troy Power crew, volunteers still maintain the lights. In 2011 the old light were replaced with the newer LED bulbs.
Each year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day, the City of Troy holds their annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This begins the Holiday Season with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus handing out cookies and candy to all the children. Once lit the tree can be seen from all over town.
Historic Event:
In a time when Troy experienced several large fires destroying several major industries and the closing of the Railroad Freight Point, the town was at an all time low. To renew optimism and hope the Troy Christmas tree was strung with lights and continues to be lit even to today.
This tree was for many years the "Largest Living Christmas Tree" in the nation. Not too sure of the actually status of this claim today, however Troy laid claim to the interesting fact for decades.
Year: Event Annually, since 1931 to today - Planted about 1865
Species: Ponderosa Pine
Approximate Age: 150
Location: Troy, Montana
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
To log this waymark you must visit the site and post an original photo of the tree. Photos taken off the web, or from other sources are not acceptable.
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