CHICAGO -
The 60-year-old, 57-foot spruce that will become Chicago's official Christmas tree was cut down this morning in Harlan Weivoda's front yard in southwest suburban Palos Heights.
It will be erected again Nov. 9 in Daley Plaza.
"I knew they (the city) always put a big tree up on top of all the other trees, but I had no idea it would be THE tree," Weivoda said. In late September he went on the city's official Web site and offered to donate the tree.
He soon heard back from the Mayor's Office of Special Events, which sent out a Long Grove landscaper to size it up.
"When they finished, they told me it was smaller than they had hoped. I told them, well, maybe next year," Weivoda said. "They said there were four other trees they were looking at."
But a few days later he received an e-mail saying the city wanted the tree.
"I think because my tree was easier to get to, that's why they chose it," Weivoda said. "The others I guess were all in back yards."
Weivoda has lived on his one acre parcel in Palos Heights since 1991.
"I was born and raised in Bridgeport and wanted to give something back to the city," he said.
Having a single tree in Daley Plaza marks a departure for the city. The tree in the past was 88 feet tall but was "actually comprised of 113 smaller trees -- it tended to be a bit of a costly venture," said Cindy Gatziolis, a spokeswoman for the special events office.
Like most other city departments, the Office of Special Events decided the city must cut down, so to speak, to a smaller tree -- hence the Weivodas.
"The budget last year was in the $300,000 range. It took two, three or four weeks to build," said Megan McDonald, the office's chief executive. "We've cut our costs by more than half. Likewise, it will take two, three, four days to build out. There will be no ornaments ... they're too heavy now that we're only using one tree. For now, we'll just go with the big, bold, beautiful lights."
It will be erected again Nov. 9 in Daley Plaza.
"I knew they (the city) always put a big tree up on top of all the other trees, but I had no idea it would be THE tree," Weivoda said. In late September he went on the city's official Web site and offered to donate the tree.
He soon heard back from the Mayor's Office of Special Events, which sent out a Long Grove landscaper to size it up.
"When they finished, they told me it was smaller than they had hoped. I told them, well, maybe next year," Weivoda said. "They said there were four other trees they were looking at."
But a few days later he received an e-mail saying the city wanted the tree.
"I think because my tree was easier to get to, that's why they chose it," Weivoda said. "The others I guess were all in back yards."
Weivoda has lived on his one acre parcel in Palos Heights since 1991.
"I was born and raised in Bridgeport and wanted to give something back to the city," he said.
Having a single tree in Daley Plaza marks a departure for the city. The tree in the past was 88 feet tall but was "actually comprised of 113 smaller trees -- it tended to be a bit of a costly venture," said Cindy Gatziolis, a spokeswoman for the special events office.
Like most other city departments, the Office of Special Events decided the city must cut down, so to speak, to a smaller tree -- hence the Weivodas.
"The budget last year was in the $300,000 range. It took two, three or four weeks to build," said Megan McDonald, the office's chief executive. "We've cut our costs by more than half. Likewise, it will take two, three, four days to build out. There will be no ornaments ... they're too heavy now that we're only using one tree. For now, we'll just go with the big, bold, beautiful lights."
