77-foot tree installed at New York City's Rockefeller Center
Posted November 09, 2019 6:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) - A Norway spruce that was purchased as a sapling 60 years ago has been installed at New York City's Rockefeller Center as the anchor of the upcoming Christmas festivities.
The 77-foot (23.5-meter) tree from the village of Florida, New York, was lifted into place Saturday.
Carol Schultz bought the sapling in 1959 and put it on a table. She planted it in her front yard after the Christmas season and watched it grow.
Schultz and her companion, Richard O'Donnell, went onto Rockefeller Center's website in 2010 and entered the tree into the selection pool. They learned earlier this year that it had made the cut.
The tree was chopped down Thursday and lifted by crane onto a flatbed truck.
The televised lighting ceremony will be held Dec. 4.
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR TISHMAN SPEYER - A crew member smiles from inside the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce from Florida, N.Y., before it is craned into place, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The 87th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)
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IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR TISHMAN SPEYER - Carol Schultz, center, donor of this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, poses with her family in front of her 77-foot tall Norway Spruce that she donated to serve as the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The 87th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)
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IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR TISHMAN SPEYER - Workers prepare to raise the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce from Florida, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The 87th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)
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IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR TISHMAN SPEYER - Carol Schultz drives a spike into the trunk of a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce from Florida, N.Y., that she donated to serve as this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The 87th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)
The Associated Press
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR TISHMAN SPEYER - The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce from Florida, N.Y., pulls into Rockefeller Plaza, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The 87th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer)
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A worker helps prepare the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, for lifting upright to a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, lifted and prepared before being set on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
Spectators look on as the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, lays on its side after arriving at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is lifted and prepared for setting on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/C)
The Associated Press
Carol Schultz, who donated the 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce for the 2019 Rockefeller Christmas Tree, pounds a spike in the base of the tree Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree will stand at Rockefeller Center and be lighted Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is secured as its set on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is moved to a platform where it will be secured at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
Workers work to free a cable as its released from the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, as its prepared for setting on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is prepared for setting on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
Workers steady the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, just before it was set on platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
A worker helps prepare the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, for lifting upright to a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is prepared for setting on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is secured after it was set on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The freshly cut bottom of the 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is seen as the tree is prepared for lifting into place at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall, 12-ton Norway Spruce, is prepared for setting on a platform at Rockefeller Center Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in New York. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Associated Press
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