Shelton Sending 80-Foot Norway Spruce To Rockefeller Center
SHELTON, Conn. (AP/CBSNewYork) -- A nearly 80-foot-tall Norway spruce is joining thousands of other Connecticut commuters as it heads to work in midtown Manhattan.
There were a few tears and many hugs in Shelton as crews worked to cut down the 76-foot-tall, 47-foot-wide tree Thursday morning, WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported.
Shelton Sending 80-Foot Norway Spruce To Rockefeller Center
The tree will travel 70 miles by tractor-trailer to Rockefeller Center, where it will become the star of the annual holiday season display.
Shelton Sending 80-Foot Norway Spruce To Rockefeller Center
John and Louise Vargoshe knew the tree was getting old and nearing the end. After nearly losing the majestic arbor last year in Superstorm Sandy, they decided to contact Rockefeller Center.
"It's just shaped just like a Christmas tree on steroids," John Vargoshe said. "It's just huge."
The tree has stood in the Vargoshe's front yard since the family brought the home 21 years ago.
"It's always been here, it's been a landmark for our family," John Vargoshe said.
"There's a lot of memories in the tree," Louise Vargoshe said. "The boys would climb the tree, baby swings were in the tree."
John Vargoshe said the family plans to plant another Norway spruce in the same spot and build new memories.
This is the second time in six years that Shelton is sending a Christmas tree to Rockefeller Center.
Mayor Mark Lauretti said furnishing Rockefeller Center with a tree is a big deal for Shelton, which calls itself "the best affordable suburb in Connecticut.''
The tree will be erected in Rockefeller Center on Friday.
The tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 4 and the tree will remain on display until Jan. 7.
"We've actually never seen the tree lit at night," John Vargoshe said. "I'm really excited."
Rockefeller Center has displayed Christmas trees since 1931.
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