Chicago selects 113th Christmas tree from northwest suburbs

While many people may still be putting away Halloween decorations, the transition to Christmas in Chicago is well underway. On Monday, a family in Campton Hills donated a tree from their front yard to become the centerpiece of Chicago’s holiday celebration. The nearly 50-foot Norway spruce stood tall in the Clarks front yard for 22 years. Early on Monday, the tree was cut down, hoisted into the air by a huge crane, then moved to a flatbed truck, where it was wrapped and tied down to prepare for the journey to Chicago. “So, the tree has grown quite large over the years,” said Amanda Clark. “Rather than just cutting it down, we were looking for a way to celebrate its life and legacy. So, my husband s grandfather passed away in November of 2004, and the funeral home gave us the 6-inch tall, little tree sapling as a remembrance. My husband planted it in the ground, and that s where it s been for over 22 years.” The Clark’s tree is now the city’s 113th Christmas tree. It will