Article updated: 11/1/2012 4:16 PM

Prospect Heights spruce becomes Chicago’s Christmas tree

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Barbara Theiszmann, center, of Prospect Heights watches with son, Tony Theiszmann of McHenry, and daughter, Kathy Patton of Wheaton, as their tree is lowered onto a truck headed to Chicago, where it will serve as the city's official Christmas tree.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

A worker signals go up to a crane operator as a 64-foot Colorado spruce tree is cut down Thursday morning at the Prospect Heights home of Barbara Theiszmann. The tree later was transported to Chicago, where it will serve as the city's official Christmas tree.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

A 64-foot tall Colorado spruce tree selected to be the Christmas tree for Daley Plaza in Chicago is hoisted by a crane after being cut down Thursday morning at the Prospect Heights home of Barbara Theiszmann.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

A 64-foot tall Colorado spruce tree is cut down Thursday morning at the Prospect Heights home of Barbara Theiszmann. The tree will be displayed for Christmas in Chicago's Daley Plaza.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

The 64-foot tall Colorado spruce tree selected to be the official Christmas tree for Daley Plaza in Chicago dwarfs workers as they secure it to a truck for the ride downtown.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

A 64-foot tall Colorado spruce tree is loaded on a flatbed trailer Thursday morning at the Prospect Heights home of Barbara Theiszmann. The tree will be placed in Chicago's Daley Plaza for Christmas.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

A 64-foot tall Colorado spruce tree selected to be the Christmas tree for Daly Plaza in Chicago is hoisted by a crane after being cut down Thursday morning at the Prospect Heights home of Barbara Theiszmann.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

A 64-foot tall Colorado spruce tree towered over the Prospect Heights home of Barbara Theiszmann before work crews cut it down Thursday and delivered it to Daley Plaza in Chicago, where it will serve as the city's official Christmas tree.

Courtesy of the city of Chicago

About this Article

A few years ago Barbara Theiszmann and her family were in Chicago taking in the holiday sights when she looked up at the giant Christmas tree in Daley Plaza, turned to her family and said "I have a tree better than this at home." Now the rest of Chicago will see that as Barbara's tree, a 64-foot tall Colorado spruce, has been selected as the Chicago Christmas tree for 2012.