LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - NOVEMBER 29, 2020 by Lynne Belluscio The front windows of LeRoy House this year, will include five “historic” Christmas trees. There will be the traditional Victorian tree that we usually share with the students from Wolcott Street school, complete with candles and stringed popcorn. There will be a “ladder tree” in the upstairs west window, which I will write about in a later Pennysaver. In the east window on the second floor will be an “electric tree” with a string of lights that went out because we couldn’t find the bulb that had blown. And right in the middle window, upstairs is the “space age” tinsel tree. This aluminum tinsel tree is a Henry family heirloom that they have loaned to the Historical Society this year. Becky Henry Seely told me that only recently, two or three years ago, they put it up. She laughed and said, “When we don’t have time to put up our usual tree, I’ll tell them to get out Mom’s tree.” “Mom” was Bea Henry, who is remembered in LeRoy as the driving force behind the Pantry, and a myriad of other community projects. Becky said that they didn’t have one of the revolving color light that was often sold with the trees. Her mom just put a desk lamp near the bottom and directed the light up into the tree. Aluminum tinsel trees first appeared late in the 1950s at trade shows. One of the first ones was manufactured by Modern Coatings in Chicago. The 1958 patent listed Nathan and Clarence D. Reece as the inventors and it described the method of wrapping the wire branches with the foil fringe. The wires were fitted into holes in a wooden pole. They were very expensive, costing $100 (over $800 today). Modern Coatings was approached by the Aluminum Specialty Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, with the idea that they could mass produce the aluminum trees much faster and cheaper. The two companies partnered and a new inexpensive aluminum tree was introduced at a trade show in the spring of 1959. During the first year, between 200,000 and 300,000 trees were manufactured. The factory was operating twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Specialty Company trees were called “Evergleam.” Other companies went into production: Duralite Aluminum, Morris Novelties, Holiday Industries, Regal Electronics, Renown, Astralite, but Aluminum Specialty Company retained 65% of the market and it is estimated that between 1959 and 1971, four million trees were manufactured. Both Alcoa and Reynolds, who manufactured the aluminum, promoted the new shiny trees and even promoted other aluminum Christmas decorations. Magazines included instructions for making Christmas decorations from aluminum foil wrap. There were a variety of designs available. The simple “Straight Needle” was the least expensive. There were the “Long Needle” branches, and a crimped needle “Swirl” design that produced more reflective surfaces. The “Fountain” design, had extra needles at the end of each branch, and was nick- named the “Pom Pom.” The Henry tree is a Pom Pom tree, although I am not sure if it is a Specialty tree or not. In 1962, Specialty introduced the revolving stand. There was even a tree with a light in the stand - - and some stands included music. There was a “Peacock” tree that could be assembled flat against the wall. And a “Bow” tree with colored aluminum bows attached to the end of each branch. But for all the glitter and shine of the tinsel tree, they came with a warning. Never put electric lights on an aluminum tree for danger of electrocution! The trees were listed in the catalogues of Sears Robuck and MontgomeryWard. Ben Franklin stores carried Specialty trees. Folks in LeRoy remember seeing a shiny aluminum tree in the front window of the Economy Store on Main Street. Dale Cohen loved decorating for Christmas in the store, and called the tree a “Hanukah Bush.” In the 70s, Endicott Johnson Store had a tinsel tree, and Crocker’s Hardware did a brisk business selling tinsel trees. It is generally believed that the decline in popularity of the aluminum tree started in 1965, after the television premier of a “Charlie Brown Christmas.” While looking for a Christmas tree, Lucy declared: “Let’s face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate you know.” As the kids walk through a display of bright shiny tinsel trees, Lucy asks Linus to find a nice pink aluminum tree. He goes up to one and knocks on the trunk, with a resounding metallic clink. “This one really brings Christmas close to a person,” says Linus. Well we all know what happens. Charlie Brown finds his forlorn Christmas tree, saying, “This little green one here seems to need a home.” And so, the tinsel tree became the reflection of the commercialization of Christmas and the popularity waned. A few years ago, there was a resurgence in the interest of aluminum trees, and collectors put together exhibits. And believe it or not, there is an Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum in Brevard, North Carolina near Ashville. (Actually the full name is the “Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum and Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum.”) Additional note, the Jell-O Gallery will be closed for two weeks in support of the folks who have chosen to be safe and not to travel during the holidays. If you are interested in picking up some gifts for Christmas, please call the office 768-7433, for information. Curbside pick up can be scheduled or items can be mailed. We appreciate your support in these unsual times. Christmas Trees in LeRoy – The Tinsel Tree