Elmhurst spruce picked to become Chicago's 105th Christmas tree

When Deborah Orth moved into her Elmhurst home in 1998, she thought it would be great to someday put Christmas decorations on the Norway spruce in the front yard.

But as Christmases came and went, Orth never followed through on the idea. Eventually, the tree became too massive for her to even consider decorating.

"It got big fast," she said. "I got overwhelmed by how many lights it would have taken."

That will change later this month when Orth finally will see the 60-foot spruce adorned with 30,000 to 40,000 colored lights and topped with a star as it debuts as Chicago's official Christmas tree in Millennium Park.

"It's quite an honor," Orth said Thursday as crews removed the tree from her yard and prepared it for its journey to Chicago. "It's a fitting way for my tree to go out."

Orth said she decided to donate the 48-year-old tree because it had outgrown its space in her yard.

That size was one reason the tree was selected from among 79 submissions received by Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

"This tree was perfect and beautiful," said Erin Harkey, deputy commissioner of programming, "so it's fulfilling its holiday destiny this year."

Crews spent three days tying the tree's branches for easier transport before arriving Thursday morning to cut it down.

Friends, relatives and neighbors stood in the Orths' driveway or lined the sidewalk across the street to watch a worker saw through the trunk. Then a giant crane was used to pick up the 8,000-pound tree and carefully put it on a flatbed truck.

Orth's 18-year-old son, Charlie Eipert, said it was bittersweet to see the spruce go.

"I didn't think that our tree would win out of all the other trees," he said. "I guess it's got everything it needs."

Through the years, Orth said the tree protected her home from sun and wind. It also was a place for rabbits - and the occasional skunk - to hide.

But she said the tree had become so wide that it was starting to hit the house. Still, she didn't want to hire someone to simply cut it down.

By donating the tree, Orth said it will be enjoyed by countless people during the holiday season.

Neighbor Jodi Douglas said she's glad the tree was chosen, but some neighborhood children will miss it.

"A lot of the kids used to run around it," Douglas said. "They love her (Orth's) yard."

Eipert remembers posing under the tree each year for first-day-of-school photos. Now the York High School senior is looking forward to seeing it decorated.

"I'm going to take one last picture when it's all dressed up," Eipert said.

The tree is scheduled to arrive at Millennium Park at 7 p.m. Friday.

The lighting ceremony for Chicago's 105th Christmas tree is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in the park.