Owners almost chopped up spruce for firewood last year
NEW YORK -- The tree that will serve as the centerpiece for Christmas in New York City, a tradition stretching back to the early 1930s, is on its way to Rockefeller Center.
The 78-foot Norway spruce was felled Wednesday at a residence in Ulster County, N.Y. and loaded onto a trailer. The tree is scheduled to be installed in Manhattan Friday and lit up on Dec. 2.
This year's tree weighs about 10 tons.
The tree almost didn't make it to the big time. The couple who donated it, Albert Asendorf and his partner, Nancy Puchalski, said they were considering cutting it down last year from the front of their Gardiner home and using it for firewood, CBS News reported.
"It was almost a goner," Asendorf said.
Instead, the couple decided to take a chance and contacted Rockefeller Center, which eventually sent its head gardener, who deemed the spruce "beautiful."
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook
