Our Dearest Tradition -- Tree Lighting is Tonight

by Ginny Dugan -- Christmas is a magical time of year – especially on the first Friday of December in the heart of our northern Nevada community.  As the stars begin to twinkle in the evening sky, the 10,000 lights of the city’s majestic white fir colorfully illuminate downtown and the hundreds of local citizens attending Fallon’s outdoor Christmas tree lighting. The ceremony is a beloved tradition that was initiated 70 years ago, developing into an annual occurrence that is anticipated and cherished by young and old alike. According to Mayor Kenneth Tedford, Jr., the Christmas tree lighting remains “close to my heart” and is one of his favorite city events, placing second after the 911 ceremony held yearly to recall our nation’s loss on September 11, 2001. “911 and the tree lighting are special to me and our crews,” Tedford said. “We do these things for our citizens because that’s whom we serve.”  And, he added, the annual ceremonies are meaningful to all. While the 911 event is, of course, a solemn tribute to those who died, Fallon’s Christmas tree lighting is full of excitement and enjoyment and has been since it first took place in 1929. “The History of the Fallon Christmas Tree,” an article by Sharon Goudswaard that appeared in Churchill County Museum’s In Focus publication of 1987-1988, provides an interesting account of the local ceremony in those early years. Sponsored by the Knights of Phythias Lodge, Alpine #24 of Fallon, the 1929 Christmas tree was found near Verdi, cost $20.00, and was 40 feet high. Mayor J.N. Tedford, grandfather to the current mayor of the City of Fallon, spoke and lit the tree before a reported 3,000 attendees. Santa distributed to the participating children approximately 1,900 gift bags containing candy, nuts and fruit. The tree lighting ceremony was followed by a Christmas dance, hosted by the Knights of Pythias, to help raise money in order to support the community’s Christmas tree. In fact, funds collected from pre-sold dance tickets assisted in the purchase of the gift bag goodies. The Knights of Pythias, an international and non-sectarian fraternal order established in 1864 in Washington, D.C., supports charitable, benevolent, fraternal and social activities through its subordinate lodges, their members, and the communities they service.  The Fallon lodge “felt they could afford to give a little” in order to make the less fortunate young boys and girls of the city happy at Christmas. In 1930 volunteers from the local Knights of Pythias erected a 33 foot fir tree that originated from the forests of the Sierra Nevadas. Once again, the massive evergreen was set up in the middle of Maine Street in downtown Fallon with the city providing the lights and illuminating the tree. A short Christmas program was prepared and performed from a large truck in front of a nearby clothing store.  The assembled crowd sang, accompanied by a local band and with the assistance of printed copies of selected Christmas carols.  As he did the year before, Santa showed up to give away gift bags. Much candy and 17 cases of oranges filled more than 2,000 gift bags for the children of Churchill County.  With admission only $1.00 and with proceeds benefitting the Christmas tree fund, a dance at the Fraternal Hall ensued. It was described in Goudswaard’s article as “one of the largest social functions of the season.” Lee Johnson, chairman of the Christmas tree committee at the time, commented in the December 31, 1930, issue of the Fallon Standard, “This second successful tree surely means the permanent establishment of the community tree custom as an annual feature of the holiday season.” The Pythian Sisters became involved in Fallon’s Christmas tree lighting festivities in 1931 by filling the gift bags with the treats for the youth. The tree that year was splendidly decorated with red, white and blue lights. However, a mishap occurred soon after it was set up. A drunk driver from Sand Springs apparently hit the tree, knocking it 20 feet and scattering broken ornaments for half a block. His punishment was a $100.00 fine and prohibition from driving within the city for 30 days. A Christmas program was not featured in 1932’s celebration because of extremely cold weather and a lack of funds. In 1933 a Buffalo Valley pinion pine was secured for the tree lighting and installed with an electric motor, wheels and belting so it could revolve. Gift bags were discontinued in 1933, but the custom was revived in 1935, largely the result of organizations and businesses within the community working together to ensure the children would receive their candy and fruit. Goudswaard pointed out that, in 1936, there was no tree but 1,200 gift bags were distributed to the young people, while, in 1937, a tree graced downtown Fallon but there were no gift bags given away. From 1941 through 1946 the Christmas tree ceremony/program was discontinued until, in 1947, it was resurrected with the City of Fallon leading the charge and various organizations and businesses cooperating in the effort. During the ensuing years, and before the publication of the museum’s 1987-1988 journal, other noteworthy developments concerning Fallon’s Christmas tree lighting took place. For example, for several years, the Kent Company obtained white fir trees through the use of a permit from the Forest Service and transported them from Quincy or Markleeville, California, to the Oasis of Nevada.  In the past trees, chosen about one to two months ahead of time, came from other areas such as Sierraville, California, near Portola, and required a full day of five men cutting it down. In 1987 the cost of a tree of the height usually secured (approximately 40 feet tall) was $700.00. This year’s 55 foot Christmas tree brilliantly lighting up downtown Fallon was picked out in October and purchased from Snowy Peaks Tree Farm in Forest Hill, California, near Auburn, and was priced at $2,000.00, according to Ryan Swirczek, one of Fallon’s Deputy Public Works Directors. One day after Carey Transport, a local company, delivered the cut tree to Fallon, six city employees on November 26^th set it (taking only 45 minutes or so to do so) into the Maine Street manhole, leaving 50 feet of evergreen to stand tall above the pavement’s surface, where it will reside until after New Year’s Day, at which time it will be taken down and chopped into firewood for free distribution to senior citizens who need it. For 34 years Judy Pratt, a retired school administrator/educator, has been responsible for coordinating Fallon’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony itself. As she explains the beginning of her involvement, Judy and a small group of fellow carolers decided in 1985 that, instead of singing Christmas music in various locations around the city, they preferred to vocalize at a central location, and the Christmas tree lighting was chosen. One of the highlights of the ceremony for which Pratt has been responsible has been the selection of a person within the community to receive the honor of actually lighting the tree by way of a mine plunger adapted to electrically turn the lights on when the handle is pushed with a descending motion.  (The late Dennis Heck, an electrical lineman when he was employed by the City of Fallon, designed the device.) The selectee often is a member of a pioneer family or someone who has contributed in a significant way to the area’s growth or prosperity. A plaque is awarded to the honored individual as a permanent reminder of the recognition. Previous honorees have included the late Ed Arciniega, former Churchill County High School instructor and acclaimed basketball coach, and Frances (Sanford) Atkinson, who was born, raised, married, owned a floral business, and lived in Fallon all her life and served as a dedicated volunteer in a number of nonprofit organizations within the community. Frances was born on December 22, 1929, and, as a child, believed the placement of Fallon’s Christmas tree in the center of town and its subsequent lighting ceremony was arranged to celebrate her birthday. The 2019 recipient of the Christmas tree lighting distinction is lifelong Fallon resident Lila Lou Guazzini. Born in 1930 to Ernest and Lilly Baumann, Lila grew up on a farm where she developed a strong work ethic at a young age. She attended Harmon Elementary School and graduated from Churchill High School before marrying her high school sweetheart, Louie Guazzini, in 1950. They had six children, all of whom participated in the family business which was farming (including selling fresh produce at a vegetable stand near their home), raising cattle, and eventually opening a mini-market (Harmon Junction). Shopping trips to Reno in order to purchase supplies for the mini-market occurred twice a week. Meals, prepared by Lila “from scratch” and cooked for hours, were enormous, and others would arrive at the Guazzini house around noon to set at the table and partake of the food. The working day, especially during the summer, for both Lila and Louie was long and hard but profitable.  In June of this year Louie, unfortunately, passed away. In addition to the Christmas tree lighting on December 6^th, this year’s ceremony includs a performance by the Lahontan Valley Concert Choir and the distribution of donated candy canes by Santa to hundreds of kids while their parents took the opportunity to snap photos of the encounter.  Hot chocolate will be provided by the Masons free of charge. The operation of a snow machine, a tradition that started approximately 15 years ago, and the shooting of fireworks, a fairly recent addition to the event, contribute to the excitement of the evening.  An open house at City Hall, with refreshments and tours of the building to meet city employees and government officials, will take place prior to the tree lighting, and a one hour Christmas concert at The Fallon Theater and featuring The Coaches follow the festivities. The Coaches is a group of male vocalists who are former Churchill County High School coaches. Pratt emphasized the importance of the Fallon Christmas tree lighting ceremony/program as “a time of giving” that retains “a huge place in people’s hearts” within this community.  Adults who experienced the event as a child years ago often will say, when asked what they think about Fallon, that “it’s the tree lighting that they love,” she said. The City of Fallon, its employees, and its citizenry “have warmly put their arms around it,” Pratt reflected.  “It’s just fantastic and a great community event.” May it continue to give joy and fond remembrance to all who have experienced its magical power!       Never miss a meeting or community event – keep an eye on the community calendar at https://www.thefallonpost.org/events/ If you like what we’re doing, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and contribute to The Fallon Post, your online news source for all things Fallon.