The Park Avenue Tree Lighting _ Dec 5, 2010
http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1904617
Sunday, December 5, 2010, for the 65th consecutive year, the imported Douglas Firs on the islands of Park Avenue were lit for the holiday season in memory of those who have lost their lives defending our country. The tradition of lighting trees began in 1945 with a small group of Park Avenue families, led by Susan V. (Mrs. Stephen C.) Clark, whose husband’s grandfather Edward Clark was one of the founders of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, as well as the builder of the Dakota and many other buildings in late 19th century New York.
There were 29 trees in the first year. Mrs. Clark worked at it and over time, interest has grown continuously, involving many prominent New Yorkers – many of whom who live on the avenue or in the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. In recent years there have been more than 100 trees.
The annual ceremony took place outside the Brick Presbyterian Church, Park Avenue at 91st Street. Holiday and Christmas songs served as a reminder of the original meaning of the lights and as a celebration of the season. Ann Watt was there to take it all in.
There must have been hundreds singing, for at one point I could hear them – very distantly but sometimes audibly from my terrace on East End and 83rd Street. It was very moving, as a mass of voices singing carols or religious songs always are. When I hear those sounds, coming through the streets of the east 80s, I couldn’t help thinking “this is the beautiful human race,” not even the words, just the sounds of the power of the human heart.
For the first few years of this tradition, costs were underwritten by the founding families. Today the Park Avenue Tree Lighting is managed by The Fund for Park Avenue, a non-profit organization whose mission is to plant, light and maintain the trees and flowers on the Park Avenue malls. The Fund relies on contributions from the community to ensure that from 54th to 96th Streets, this 2½ mile long memorial continues to be lit each year on the first Sunday in December. Any contribution will be helpful. It now costs about $300,000 to light them through the holiday season. It’s worth it, to all of us, on many levels.
Read MoreSunday, December 5, 2010, for the 65th consecutive year, the imported Douglas Firs on the islands of Park Avenue were lit for the holiday season in memory of those who have lost their lives defending our country. The tradition of lighting trees began in 1945 with a small group of Park Avenue families, led by Susan V. (Mrs. Stephen C.) Clark, whose husband’s grandfather Edward Clark was one of the founders of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, as well as the builder of the Dakota and many other buildings in late 19th century New York.
There were 29 trees in the first year. Mrs. Clark worked at it and over time, interest has grown continuously, involving many prominent New Yorkers – many of whom who live on the avenue or in the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. In recent years there have been more than 100 trees.
The annual ceremony took place outside the Brick Presbyterian Church, Park Avenue at 91st Street. Holiday and Christmas songs served as a reminder of the original meaning of the lights and as a celebration of the season. Ann Watt was there to take it all in.
There must have been hundreds singing, for at one point I could hear them – very distantly but sometimes audibly from my terrace on East End and 83rd Street. It was very moving, as a mass of voices singing carols or religious songs always are. When I hear those sounds, coming through the streets of the east 80s, I couldn’t help thinking “this is the beautiful human race,” not even the words, just the sounds of the power of the human heart.
For the first few years of this tradition, costs were underwritten by the founding families. Today the Park Avenue Tree Lighting is managed by The Fund for Park Avenue, a non-profit organization whose mission is to plant, light and maintain the trees and flowers on the Park Avenue malls. The Fund relies on contributions from the community to ensure that from 54th to 96th Streets, this 2½ mile long memorial continues to be lit each year on the first Sunday in December. Any contribution will be helpful. It now costs about $300,000 to light them through the holiday season. It’s worth it, to all of us, on many levels.
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