CHICAGO -
Chicago has had an official Christmas tree for almost a century, since 1913. And for the past 50 years or so, the city has constructed one giant tree from scores of smaller trees. But this year, Chicago came back to the tradition of one big tree, thanks to the Weivoda family, and their spirit of giving.
"Wow, that's a big crane!"
It's a bright and chilly morning in Southwest suburban Palos Heights, and the neighbors have come out to see what's happening.
"They cutting down the Christmas tree?" "Isn't this exciting? At least we put our name on the map." "... a little bit of Palos Heights in downtown Chicago. "I think they're gonna enjoy the notoriety of being the neighborhood that gave Chicago a Christmas tree."
Today their neighbors, the Weivodas, are giving away their 55 foot tall blue spruce tree. It was Harlan Weivoda's idea.
"I'm a little overwhelmed with the publicity. Even though I'm Palos Heights and I love Palos Heights, anybody asks me where I'm from, I always say Chicago."
Harlan e-mailed the city, and said come and get it. They sent Rick Corby to take a look.
"It's hard to find the perfect tree. We found one but it was too close to power lines."
Corby heads the Brickman team entrusted to move it. He could tell from the Weivoda's pictures the tree had potential.
"The crane is a big portion of it. We've had 4 guys for two days here tying the tree up, we want to try to protect the branches when it's being transported."
Harlan's wife Carol, and their kids, Ian and Kelsey were there to watch.
"Looks like they're putting a hook up at the top, and the guy just crawled up the center of it and I think they're gonna hook it up... I'm not sure."
The Weivodas are actually donating two trees. The one next to the house will fill in the big tree's bare spots.
"It's saving a lot of trees and it's also saving a lot of money for Chicago.
It's been the Weivodas' tree for 19 years. Even though they had no kids when they moved here, the whole family loves telling this story.
"My dad has a pretty funny story with this tree."
"My wife has been saying hey we have to decorate the Christmas tree..."
"So one day my mom comes home from work and my dad is halfway up the tree with lights in his mouth"...
"At that particular time probably 40 feet high"...
"He wasn't all the way to the top either and he started putting lights on the inside."
"Wow, that's a big crane!"
It's a bright and chilly morning in Southwest suburban Palos Heights, and the neighbors have come out to see what's happening.
"They cutting down the Christmas tree?" "Isn't this exciting? At least we put our name on the map." "... a little bit of Palos Heights in downtown Chicago. "I think they're gonna enjoy the notoriety of being the neighborhood that gave Chicago a Christmas tree."
Today their neighbors, the Weivodas, are giving away their 55 foot tall blue spruce tree. It was Harlan Weivoda's idea.
"I'm a little overwhelmed with the publicity. Even though I'm Palos Heights and I love Palos Heights, anybody asks me where I'm from, I always say Chicago."
Harlan e-mailed the city, and said come and get it. They sent Rick Corby to take a look.
"It's hard to find the perfect tree. We found one but it was too close to power lines."
Corby heads the Brickman team entrusted to move it. He could tell from the Weivoda's pictures the tree had potential.
"The crane is a big portion of it. We've had 4 guys for two days here tying the tree up, we want to try to protect the branches when it's being transported."
Harlan's wife Carol, and their kids, Ian and Kelsey were there to watch.
"Looks like they're putting a hook up at the top, and the guy just crawled up the center of it and I think they're gonna hook it up... I'm not sure."
The Weivodas are actually donating two trees. The one next to the house will fill in the big tree's bare spots.
"It's saving a lot of trees and it's also saving a lot of money for Chicago.
It's been the Weivodas' tree for 19 years. Even though they had no kids when they moved here, the whole family loves telling this story.
"My dad has a pretty funny story with this tree."
"My wife has been saying hey we have to decorate the Christmas tree..."
"So one day my mom comes home from work and my dad is halfway up the tree with lights in his mouth"...
"At that particular time probably 40 feet high"...
"He wasn't all the way to the top either and he started putting lights on the inside."
