Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Makes Journey From Pennsylvania To Manhattan

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An 85-foot Norway spruce from central Pennsylvania will serve as Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree this year.

Workers cut down the 13-ton tree and a crane hoisted it onto a trailer Wednesday morning for the 155-mile journey to midtown Manhattan.

The tree is at the home of Dan Sigafoos and Rachel Drosdick-Sigafoos, about three hours west of New York City.

The young couple bought the home on Frosty Valley Road in Hemlock Township two years ago, knowing that the tree behind their barn had already been on the radar for Rockefeller Center, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.

The call came this year.

"They said this is going to be the tree," said Rachel Drosdick-Sigafoo, who has already decorated her house for Christmas. "It's not uncommon for anybody in my family to listen to Christmas music in September or August, and I had said to Dan, 'If this happens, you do realize that Christmas starts a lot earlier this year.'"

Erik Pauze, head gardener for Rockefeller Center, said he found the tree a couple of years ago, but it wasn't quite ready.

"I came by every now and then, checked it out, and when they bought the house and they contacted me again I came by and it was perfect, it was ready to go," Pauze said. "This tree is great. Nice and tall, nice and straight and it's going to look great in front of Rockefeller Center."

The tree will be illuminated for the first time on Dec. 3 in a ceremony that's been held since 1933.

The annual holiday event at Rockefeller Center attracts tens of thousands of people and is watched by millions more on television.

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