LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - DECEMBER 5, 2021 by Lynne Belluscio A new booklet that includes the stories of LeRoy’s Christmas trees will be hot off the press in time for the Candlelight tours of LeRoy House. Everyone who buys a ticket for a tour will receive a free booklet. Extra booklets will be available for $3.50 and all proceeds will help the LeRoy Historical Society. The booklet includes a short story about how the LeRoy family would have celebrated Christmas in the 1830s. Also, it includes the story about the tree that has been decorated as if it were from the Civil War, and the popular Christmas Carol that includes mention of the war and its destruction. Of course, there is mention of the beautiful Victorian tree, which stands on a table in the center of the front parlor, and the unusual ladder tree described in the LeRoy Gazette. Probably the most unusual story is about the gas lit Christmas tree that was exhibited in LeRoy in the 1860s. This tree, with its copper pipes and gas nozzles has been reproduced by Ray Stein, and will be on exhibit this year. In the back parlor is the 1940s electric tree, and the booklet explains how electricity changed how we celebrate Christmas. The remaining story is about the aluminum tinsel tree that became so popular in the 1960s and then lost its popularity due to the Charlie Brown Christmas story. Stop by the Jell-O Gallery and pick up a copy of this glimpse of LeRoy history or we can mail one to you. Call 585-768-7433. Candlelight tours are scheduled: Sunday December 5 Tour #1 7 to 8 pm Sunday December 6 Tour #2 8 to 9 pm Sunday December 12 Tour #3 7 to 8 pm Sunday December 12 Tour #4 8 to 9pm Saturday December 18 Tour #5 1 to 2 pm Saturday December 18 Tour # 6 2 to 3 pm Tickets $5 call 585-768-7433 or stop by the Jell-OGallery History of LeRoy’s Christmas Trees LE ROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PO Box 176 • 23 East Main St. • LeRoy, NY 14482 • 585-768-7433 • historicalleroy@gmail.com LeRoy’s Christmas Trees LeRoys Community Tree The huge community tree at the corner of Route 19 and Route 5 has become another tradition in LeRoy. It was first put up in 2013, shortly after the Wiss building on the corner was torn down. Special electricity had to be run to the site to accommodate the large tree. Andrew Lathan bought the tree from Manlely Vosburgh, who had bought three trees from Eastman Kodak. It was said that this tree may have stood outside the Kodak offices on State Street. Businesses in LeRoy were asked to contribute ornaments for the tree. Manley Vosburgh contributed three large light bulbs, with his initials, MFV. Front Back