Fir Tree Is California’s Christmas Gift to Capitol

California’s present to Congress this Christmas is an exquisite 100-year-old Shasta Red Fir. The evergreen will leave Klamath National Forest, in Siskiyou County, on Nov. 8 for Washington, becoming the first Western tree ever to grace the lawn of the Capitol Building during the holiday season.

Only the upper 55 feet of the Shasta Red Fir will be sent intact. The tree stands 103 feet high and measures 18 feet in diameter. The upper pyramid-shaped portion will fit snugly into a box car for perishables. When erected, the tree-top will be level with the Capitol’s dome. Lower branches will be packaged for use in wreaths, and as mulch for the Capitol Building’s rose gardens.

Tree’s Journey

Southern Pacific Railroad will provide the freight car to carry the tree on its 3,500-mile journey across the country. Six thousand ornaments, being made by California school children, will ride in a tandem car belonging to Yreka Western. The tree will travel down to Sacramento, then head east, arriving in Washington in time to be decorated and lighted on Dec. 10, the day before Mrs. Reagan lights the interior White House tree. The pine on the White House lawn is a living tree.

The California fir was honored this year because forester Tom Hamilton of the Klamath National Forest had the conviction that “we grow the best trees.” Hamilton complained to Jon Silvius, public information officer for Klamath National Forest, that in 23 years there’d never been a California Christmas tree in the nation’s capital.

Silvius pursued the matter and Klamath National Forest’s representatives appeared before the 1986 Tree Selection Panel. Forestry Supervisor Bob Rice told the panel of Siskiyou County’s commitment to the tree project. Six months later, Rep. Eugene Chappie (R-Roseville) announced that the 1986 tree would come from Klamath National Forest.

There are 154 National Forests. Rice said, “This is a forester’s dream come true, a once in a lifetime honor for us.”

The Capitol’s architect, Paul Pincus, flew to Klamath National Forest on Memorial Day weekend this year. Five trees, selected by forester Hamilton, were shown to Pincus in ascending order, saving “the best for last.”

“I knew two years ago which tree he’d pick,” Hamilton said. “My dad and I’ve picked trees for Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. My dad died the day Pincus picked the tree.”

Forester Silvius felt western forests have been overlooked in the past because of the distance to Washington. In 23 years a tree had never been selected west of the Mississippi, much less the Pacific Northwest. In the past the Capitol tree has come from West Virginia, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin and Vermont.

The tree selected by Pincus is located in an area served by Goosenest Ranger Station 25 air miles east of Mt. Shasta near Medicine Lake. Or the tree can be reached in 1 1/2 hours from the picturesque town of Mt. Shasta around to the south side of the mountain. The road winds through lush grain fields and dense forests.

Other trees from the area will go to the Supreme Court and the Botanical Gardens, both in Washington.

A Shasta Red Fir is unique to high elevations in Northern California and Southern Oregon.

St. Boniface Legend

The fir’s symmetrical branches are made to order for a Christmas tree. Legend has it that St. Boniface happened upon a German prince whom a group of Druids was about to sacrifice. Pleading for Prince Asulf’s life, the saint suggested that the Druids kill an oak tree instead. When the oak was chopped down, a full grown fir sprang to life in its place. The fir came to represent peace and the tree of Christ.

Sending the Shasta Red Fir to Congress is not going to cost the taxpayers a dime. “We’ve got a mini-Olympics here,” Silvius said, referring to the way private enterprise provided the money for the Olympic Games. The Economic Development Council is handling the monies for the project. “Donations are coming in,” Lee Ferrero, president of the council said. Businesses and individuals can pay to be tree sponsors or supporters.

Area residents are mostly “thrilled” about the fate of their tree. “The tree is only as beautiful as the area it comes from,” Jill Colombana, a sponsor of the tree, said. Another hoped the publicity wouldn’t mean an influx of people to this scenic ski area.

Betty Stuart from the Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce commented, “The tree’s a beautiful representative of our majestic mountain.”

The tree will be felled by Mike Stonecypher of Tennant, who won the honor in a contest of skills. To compensate for the forest’s loss, 10,000 new trees will be planted in a reforestation program.

On Monday, Dec. 1, the California tree will arrive at the railroad yards in Washington, across from National Airport. The fir will be trucked to the west lawn of the Capitol Building. Architect Pincus will oversee the decorating. He said he’ll use “as many ornaments as the kids send.” It is believed that House Speaker Tip O’Neill will throw the switch to light the 5,000 lights.