From the Editor
I
n December 1923, President Calvin Coolidge hit a switch that lit up a 48-foot Vermont Balsam fir tree with more than 2,500 light bulbs. It was the first lighting of the national tree in our history. It cost $5,000 to install underground lighting cables for the trees’ bulbs, and a church choir and a brass quartet of the Marine Band performed. President Coolidge agreed to push the button to light the tree but refused to speak at the event. In 1924, Coolidge almost put an end to the tradition before it began as he was reluctant to cut down a tree for the event, only agreeing to the ceremony again if a living tree was used. While the event would eventually become a national tradition symbolizing unity and thankfulness, the original intent was to encourage more people to use electricity. The idea came from Frederick Feiker, assistant to the Secretary of Commerce. He wrote: “The Society for Electrical Development was interested to have as many people use electric lights at Christmas time as possible, so I thought of this idea of having the National Christmas Tree at Washington, which would stimulate other people to have outdoor Christmas trees. In order to get this started, we had to get the President of the United States to light the tree. If you get the President of the United States two years in succession to do a thing, he will always do it.” It seems to have helped. In 1920, 35 percent of homes had electricity. By 1930, it was 68 percent. In 1945, after several years of no tree lighting ceremonies during World War II, President Truman lit the national tree and noted, “This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years. With peace come joy and gladness. The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Community Christmas Tree.” In 1983, 7-year-old Amy Bentham wrote the Make-A-Wish Foundation: “The Christmas tree that lights up for our country must be seen all the way to heaven. I would wish so much to help the President turn on those Christmas lights.” She did just that, joining President Reagan the same year. The Pinehurst Christmas Tree Lighting will be December 3, and I hope many of you will be able to enjoy this community tradition. In a time of increasing turmoil and division, a tree lighting ceremony can still evoke a sense of community and help narrow, at least briefly, our broadening differences. Happy holidays!
10 ASOUTHERNSOPHISTICATION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
PUBLISHER/EDITOR Greg Girard greg@pinehurstlivingmagazine.com PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Amanda Jakl amanda@pinehurstlivingmagazine.com ADVERTISING SALES Debbie Jordan debbie@pinehurstlivingmagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Steve Jordan COPY EDITOR William C. Nelson OUR GIRL FRIDAY Amanda Oden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robert Gable, Sundi McLaughlin, Dolores Muller, Robert Nason, Ray Owen, Sassy Pellizzari, Helen Ross, Whitney Weston PHOTOGRAPHY Moore County Historical Association, Tufts Archives For advertising or subscription inquiries call 910.420.0185 © Copyright 2021. Pinehurst Living is published six times annually by Sand & Pine LLC. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher. Mailing address: PO Box 5202, Pinehurst, NC 28374 Phone 910.420.0185 www.PinehurstLivingMagazine.com Pinehurst Living will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.
