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Christmas Tree Lane LbNA #50334 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Sep 12, 2009
Location:
City:Altadena
County:Los Angeles
State:California
Boxes:1
Planted by:Colin & Lisa
Found by: Not yet found!
Last found:N/A
Status:aaa
Last edited:Sep 12, 2009
Deodars were introduced in 1883 to Southern California by Altadena founder John P. Woodbury who first saw a stand of the deodars in Italy.

Proclaiming them the most beautiful trees he had ever seen, he returned with seeds, and getting assurance from a friend of his at the Department of Agriculture that the trees would do well in California, had his brother Frederick nurse them at the Altadena ranch.

In two years they were transplanted to Santa Rosa Avenue, which would become a driveway from Pasadena up the near mile stretch to Woodbury’s planned estate. The mansion was never realized, but the deodar legacy was left and it flourished for over a century to follow.

In 1920 Altadena resident and Pasadena businessman Frederick C. Nash came up with an idea of lighting the trees for the holidays. He sought assistance from his organization The Pasadena Kiwanis Club and from the City of Pasadena to initially light a 1/4 mile section of the roadway. Over the next few years the lighting expanded until the entire row of trees, 150 in all, were lighted. The boulevard at that time was referred to as the Avenue of the Deodars. Though many pedestrians would walk along the lighted street, it was really a spectacle to behold from the seats of slowly passing automobiles.

In 1927 the newer Altadena Kiwanis Club began the custom of taking less fortunate children for rides along what they joyfully called Christmas Tree Street. It was estimated that annually more than 50,000 automobiles travel the avenue during the weeks of the lighting, and modern statistics show that number has not changed much.

Lighting went on for the next three decades with Mr. Tom Hoag, the foreman of the Woodbury Ranch who saw to the planting of the lane, doing the honor of “pulling the switch” for each lighting ceremony. In the years 1943 and 1944 the Lane was let go dark, not for anything to do with the war effort, but for the fact that the winter snow packs were low and conservation of electricity became a concern. During that period Mr. Hoag passed away.

The Lane had its share of postcards which were published internationally, but after the war many of the cards came up with the caption, “Christmas Tree Lane.” It is supposed that is where the street actually took its present-day name. This history was provided by the Christmas Tree Lane Assoication website

There are two monument boulders on each side of the beginning of the lane at Woodbury Road. The letter box is hidden in the bush beside the east monument boulder that holds a plaque dedicating the little park. This is a pretyy exposed area, so keep any eye out for people before you go in for the box. You can sit in the little park area to do your stamping. This is an easy drive by site. Enjoy!