LEWISTON – When the Craft family moved into their Lewiston home on Balsam Street a year ago October, they thought the blue spruce in the middle of their front yard would make a nice Christmas tree.

Lacking the 35-foot ceilings required to accommodate the tree, Kelly Miller-Craft, her husband, Michael Craft, and their children, Emily, 10, and Andrew, 6, donated it to the city of Lewiston for the Christmas tree that now stands in Courthouse Plaza on Lisbon Street.

The tree was selected from among five finalists offered to the community.

City arborist Steve Murch had his crews vote on the five trees, narrowing the choice to two. The votes were so close Murch had to make the final decision.

“We were happy to send a little Christmas cheer along to the people of Lewiston,” said Kelly Miller-Craft before the tree was cut down Tuesday morning. “Christmas is a special time of the year for us, and this is a Christmas the kids will never forget.”

On Tuesday morning, a crowd of family, friends and neighbors gathered in the cold on Balsam Street as Lewiston arborist Scott Bates started his chain saw. Within minutes, the tree was free of the ground that had held it steady since 1971 when Sally and Raymond Moore planted the blue spruce.

“I can’t wait to tell my girls!” said Sally Moore, when she found out the tree had been chosen. “They were in grade school when we planted that tree. It was like 3 feet tall.”

As compensation for the tree, the city will plant a tree on the Crafts’ property. The city will also take care of the stump and clean up the branches that had to be cut to move the 3,000-pound tree.

When the tree arrived Tuesday night at Courthouse Plaza, a few feet were trimmed from the trunk and the massive bulk was hoisted up. Finally, the tree was secure in its cement stand, and a metal brace was secured to the McCrory building.

The Christmas tree had arrived.

For more photos, check online at:

https://www.sunjournal.com/gallery/ShowAlbum.php?id=119