Though it pales to many recent Humboldt undertakings, a Christmas tree stands in the middle of the intersection of Bridge and Eighth streets.
In the 1950s, cedars were cut from nearby farms and brought downtown. They were decorated and in short order became a Christmastime standard, back when Eighth Street was U.S. 169.
Then, for reasons hidden in the mists of time, the trees were no more.
A few months ago, I thought it would be nice to renew the tradition, to complement in a small way the proliferation of decorations on the city square. City council members and Chief of Police Shannon Moore signed on.
As time drew near to cutting a tree, my role became secondary. Beverlys brothers, Craig and Todd Mintz, seized the reins a godsend.
Last Sunday Craig and I searched through several pastures until we found the perfect tree, green enough and full enough.
At 300 lbs., the tree was brought to town Monday on Craigs grandson Colton Riebels Bobcat.
Meanwhile, Craig constructed an intricate metal apparatus to keep the tree firmly in place, secured in a section of pipe with heavy set screws.
Decorating fell to Beverly and I, with much-appreciated help from Humboldt High cheerleaders.
Jeremy Bulk, city code officer, helped as well. He purchased my donation a 140-foot string of battery-powered outdoor lights.
In early November I asked Staci Hudlin, Humboldt Elementary principal, if her students could provide handmade decorations, to give the venture even more of a community flavor, to which they readily agreed.
Tuesday I picked up a large box filled with the decorations, made of thin wood and painted in amazing schemes by the kids. To ensure their durability, Staci had coated them with waterproof spray.
Trish Sanchez was instrumental. What a pleasure it is to have someone so accommodating directing public service in Humboldt.
Trish and an employee unloaded the tree on the square for decorating and was just as responsive in ferrying it to the middle of Bridge and Eighth streets Wednesday morning.
When it became obvious the tree wasnt quite as visible as anticipated, she put traffic alerts connected by evidence tape on four corners of the display.
