Photos: Honorary Boston Common Christmas Tree arrives from Nova Scotia
November 21, 2020
The tree sits at 45 feet tall and is awaiting its Holiday lights, which the city will decorate on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
The Tree for Boston arrived on a shipping container via a police escort at 11 a.m. Friday morning.
The tree was driven from Nova Scotia with a flag of the province draped on both sides.
While the tree sat on the shipping container shortly after arrival, workers for Maltby and Co. Tree Service spent about 30 minutes untying the rope and trimming within the tree.
After freeing the tree from the container, a crane lifted it order to place it in its designated location.
A few dozen spectators stood by and watched Maltby and Co. clean the tree and place it in the Common.
One worker was often lifted to put finishing touches on the upper branches throughout the process.
Maltby and Co. spent over two hours erecting the tree on Friday.
The tree hovered above its designated hole while more workers trimmed the bark enough for the tree fit into the divot in the ground.
Workers cutting and collecting the shaved bark of the base of the tree.
A worker with a chainsaw looks up at a another worker at the top of the tree.
One worker with a chainsaw spent about 20 minutes carving thin slices from the bark to make the perfect fit.
Once all the bark needed to make the tree fit was removed, the crane began to lower it into the hole below.
A crew of workers secured the tree in place with several angled planks surrounding the base.
Several dozen spectators watched Friday morning as Maltby and Company Tree Service helped erect this year’s Nova Scotian white spruce Christmas tree in Boston Common.
The tree is sent by the Canadian province each year to honor the relationship between the Boston and Nova Scotia. In 1917, following the Halifax explosion that killed 1,800 people and devastated the city, Boston quickly sent relief North and assisted in the recovery. The province of Nova Scotia now cuts a tree each year and delivers it to the city. This one stands at 45 meters adjacent to the Boston Common’s visitor center, a short walk from Park Street.
In addition to honoring the aid from Boston 103 years ago, this year’s Tree for Boston stands as a symbol of thanks to healthcare workers who have been fighting COVID-19.
The city will coat the tree with lights on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
