Christmas is a magical time of year, especially on the first Friday of December in the heart of our northern Nevada community. As the stars twinkle in the evening sky, the 10,000 lights of the city’s majestic white fir colorfully illuminate downtown, and hundreds of local citizens attend Fallon’s outdoor Christmas tree lighting. The ceremony is a beloved tradition initiated 70 years ago, developing into an annual occurrence anticipated and cherished by young and old alike.
According to Mayor Ken Tedford, the Christmas tree lighting remains “close to my heart” and is one of his favorite city events. Fallon’s Christmas tree lighting is full of excitement and enjoyment and has been since it first occurred in 1929. “The History of the Fallon Christmas Tree,” an article by Sharon Goudswaard that appeared in Churchill County Museum’s “In Focus” of 1987-1988, provides an exciting account of the local ceremony in those early years.
Sponsored by the Knights of Pythias Lodge, Alpine #24 of Fallon, the 1929 Christmas tree was found near Verdi, cost $20.00, and was 40 feet high. Mayor J.N. Tedford, the grandfather of the current mayor, spoke and lit the tree before a reported 3,000 attendees. Santa distributed about 1,900 gift bags containing candy, nuts, and fruit to the children.
The tree lighting ceremony was followed by a Christmas Dance hosted by the Knights of Pythias to help raise money to support the community’s Christmas tree. In fact, funds collected from pre-sold dance tickets assisted in purchasing the gift bag goodies.
The Fallon lodge “felt they could afford to give a little” to make the city's less fortunate young boys and girls happy at Christmas.
The following year, volunteers from the local Knights of Pythias erected a 33-foot fir tree that originated from the forests of the Sierra Nevadas. Once again, the massive evergreen was set up in the middle of Maine Street, with the city providing the lights to illuminate the tree. A short Christmas program was prepared and performed from a large truck in front of a nearby clothing store. The assembled crowd sang, accompanied by a local band and with the assistance of printed copies of selected Christmas carols. As he did the year before, Santa showed up to give away gift bags. There was lots of candy and 17 cases of oranges filling more than 2,000 gift bags for the children.
The Fraternal Hall hosted the dance afterward with a $1 admission, with proceeds benefitting the Christmas tree fund. It was described in Goudswaard’s article as “one of the largest social functions of the season.”
Lee Johnson, chairman of the Christmas tree committee at the time, commented in the December 31, 1930, issue of the Fallon Standard, “This second successful tree surely means the permanent establishment of the community tree custom as an annual feature of the holiday season.”
This year’s 55-foot Christmas tree, patiently awaiting its turn to brilliantly light up downtown Fallon, was picked out in October from a tree farm and trucked to Fallon by local company Carey Transport. In mid-November, city employees set the tree into the Maine Street manhole, leaving 50 feet of evergreen to stand tall above the pavement’s surface, where it will reside until after New Year’s Day when it will be taken down and chopped into firewood for free distribution to senior citizens who need it.
For 38 years, Judy Pratt, a retired school administrator/educator, has been responsible for coordinating Fallon’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony itself. As she explains the beginning of her involvement, Judy and a small group of fellow carolers decided in 1985 that, instead of singing Christmas music in various locations around the city, they preferred to vocalize at a central location, and the Christmas tree lighting was chosen.
One of the highlights of the ceremony for which Pratt has been responsible has been the selection of a person within the community to receive the honor of lighting the tree by way of a mine plunger adapted to electrically turn the lights on when the handle is pushed with a descending motion. The late Dennis Heck, an electrical lineman employed by the City of Fallon, designed the device.
The selectee is often a member of a pioneer family or someone who has contributed significantly to the area’s growth or prosperity. A plaque is awarded to the honored individual as a reminder of the recognition.
Previous honorees have included the late Ed Arciniega, former Churchill County High School instructor and acclaimed basketball coach, and Frances (Sanford) Atkinson, who was born, raised, married, owned a floral business, and lived in Fallon all her life, and served as a dedicated volunteer in several nonprofit organizations within the community. Frances was born on December 22, 1929, and, as a child, believed the placement of Fallon’s Christmas tree in the center of town and its subsequent lighting ceremony was arranged to celebrate her birthday.
Fallon Public Works Director Brian Byrd tells us, “It's customary to keep the identity of the pioneer who will push the plunger that lights the tree under wraps until the night of the tree lighting.” So please don’t ask because he’s not telling.
The operation of a snow machine, a tradition that started approximately 19 years ago, and the shooting of fireworks, a relatively recent addition to the event, always contribute to the excitement of the evening. An open house at City Hall and the Douglass House, with refreshments and tours of the building to meet city employees and government officials, begins at 4:30 before the tree lighting starts at 6:30 p.m., and a Christmas concert at The Fallon Theater follows the festivities. This year, ice skating is added at the Fallon on Ice Rink just south of the Douglass House.
Pratt emphasized the importance of the Fallon Christmas tree lighting ceremony/program as “a time of giving” that retains “a huge place in people’s hearts” within this community.
Adults who experienced the event as a child years ago often will say, when asked what they think about Fallon, that “it’s the tree lighting that they love,” she said. The City of Fallon, its employees, and its citizenry “have warmly put their arms around it,” Pratt reflected. “It’s just fantastic and a great community event.”
May it continue to give joy and fond remembrance to all who have experienced its magical power!
Comment
Comments