Okla-homey
12/24/2007, 07:58 AM
December 24, 1923: Coolidge lights first national Christmas tree
http://aycu19.webshots.com/image/36938/2000596616301321258_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000596616301321258)
The first White House outdoor tree.
84 years ago, on this day in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge touches a button and lights up the first national Christmas tree to grace the White House grounds.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/37187/2000522936110101506_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000522936110101506)
First Lady Grace Coolidge prevailed upon her stony and silent husband Cal to allow an outdoor tree on the grounds
Not only was this the first White House "community" Christmas tree, but it was the first to be decorated with electric lights--a strand of 2,500 red, white and green bulbs.
The balsam fir came from Coolidge’s home state of Vermont and stood 48 feet tall. Several musical groups performed at the tree-lighting ceremony, including the Epiphany Church choir and the U.S. Marine Band. Later that evening, President Coolidge and first lady Grace were treated to carols sung by members of Washington D.C.’s First Congregational Church.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/37811/2000527498675415092_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000527498675415092)
The 2007 outdoor White House (a/k/a "National") Christmas Tree.
According to the White House Historical Association, President Benjamin Harrison was the first president to set up an indoor Christmas tree for his family and visitors to enjoy 34 years earlier in 1889.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/37811/2000555411979356529_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000555411979356529)
Benjamin Harrison. He was the last former general to become president until Eisenhower. Harrison had been a general the Union Army, fought with Sherman, and helped "make Georgia howl."
Since then, every US president has been at least nominally Christian, so there have been indoor Christmas trees ever since the Harrison's first indoor tree.
That first tree put up by the Harrison's was decorated with ornaments and candles. In 1929, first lady Lou Henry Hoover oversaw what would become an annual tradition of decorating the indoor White House tree. Since then, each first lady’s duties have included the trimming of the official White House tree.
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/37530/2000505091652206515_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000505091652206515)
First Lady Lou Hoover
Coolidge’s "inauguration" of the first outdoor national Christmas tree initiated a tradition that has been repeated with every administration. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan began another custom by authorizing the first official White House ornament, copies of which were made available for purchase.
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/36156/2000540274667945753_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000540274667945753)
The 2007 Ornament, for sale thru various retailers. profits this year benefit the US Secret Service Foundation -- which helps families of deceased Secret Service officers
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/37142/2000569004978919895_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000569004978919895)
http://aycu19.webshots.com/image/36938/2000596616301321258_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000596616301321258)
The first White House outdoor tree.
84 years ago, on this day in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge touches a button and lights up the first national Christmas tree to grace the White House grounds.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/37187/2000522936110101506_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000522936110101506)
First Lady Grace Coolidge prevailed upon her stony and silent husband Cal to allow an outdoor tree on the grounds
Not only was this the first White House "community" Christmas tree, but it was the first to be decorated with electric lights--a strand of 2,500 red, white and green bulbs.
The balsam fir came from Coolidge’s home state of Vermont and stood 48 feet tall. Several musical groups performed at the tree-lighting ceremony, including the Epiphany Church choir and the U.S. Marine Band. Later that evening, President Coolidge and first lady Grace were treated to carols sung by members of Washington D.C.’s First Congregational Church.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/37811/2000527498675415092_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000527498675415092)
The 2007 outdoor White House (a/k/a "National") Christmas Tree.
According to the White House Historical Association, President Benjamin Harrison was the first president to set up an indoor Christmas tree for his family and visitors to enjoy 34 years earlier in 1889.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/37811/2000555411979356529_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000555411979356529)
Benjamin Harrison. He was the last former general to become president until Eisenhower. Harrison had been a general the Union Army, fought with Sherman, and helped "make Georgia howl."
Since then, every US president has been at least nominally Christian, so there have been indoor Christmas trees ever since the Harrison's first indoor tree.
That first tree put up by the Harrison's was decorated with ornaments and candles. In 1929, first lady Lou Henry Hoover oversaw what would become an annual tradition of decorating the indoor White House tree. Since then, each first lady’s duties have included the trimming of the official White House tree.
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/37530/2000505091652206515_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000505091652206515)
First Lady Lou Hoover
Coolidge’s "inauguration" of the first outdoor national Christmas tree initiated a tradition that has been repeated with every administration. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan began another custom by authorizing the first official White House ornament, copies of which were made available for purchase.
http://aycu37.webshots.com/image/36156/2000540274667945753_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000540274667945753)
The 2007 Ornament, for sale thru various retailers. profits this year benefit the US Secret Service Foundation -- which helps families of deceased Secret Service officers
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/37142/2000569004978919895_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000569004978919895)