The ghost of Christmas past brought us these crazy facts about the holidays on Long Island.
Almost 100 Years Ago in Smithtown
Captured almost 100 years ago, this photo was taken around 1920 at the Franklin Arthur Farm showing a line of people outside with Santa Claus, Collection of Smithtown Historical Society, donated by Charles Embree Rockwell.
This Crazy Amount of Snow
William J. Weeks with his horse and sleigh on way to Wampmissic from Yaphank to check on his cord wood business.
This Crazy Holiday Card From Actor Victor Moore
Photo: Freeport Historical Society. Used with permission.
Every Year the Big Duck and Montauk Lighthouse Are Lit Up for Christmas
Photo: Friends of the Big Duck Facebook page..
At The Fire Island Lighthouse There is a Flying Santa
Back in 1953 Pilot Snow (a.k.a. “Flying Santa”) flew his plane past the Fire Island Lighthouse and left a package of holiday gifts for the Lighthouse Keeper and his family. Every year at the Fire Island Lighthouse they reenact this event as a vintage aircraft delivers Santa to Fire Island Lighthouse. This is the 21st year they will hold the event.
A Yaphank Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center Was One of the Most Extravagant Ever
In 1949, a 75-foot Norway spruce tree was lit in NYC for the Christmas season. Think of the most over the top Christmas Tree display and plunk that down in the middle of Manhattan during the holidays. That’s what the organizers did with a 75-foot Norway spruce tree donated to Rockefeller Center by Yaphank’s Charles Everett Walters in 1949.
According to an article by the Yaphank Historical Society that was shared with longIsland.com, the tree was “covered with hundreds of gallons of silvery-white paint to indicate a snow-covered look before it was cut down.”
They also noted that “five hundred plastic globes in blue, yellow, orange, orchid, and red adorned the tree and were reflected by the silver branches during the day. 7,500 green, yellow, orange, blue, and red lights lit up the tree at night. This tree was a dazzling sight, both day and night.
Rockefeller Center added to this dazzling display by decorating the promenade leading to the tree with 576 rapidly whirling illuminated giant snowflakes.”
That Was Not The Only Rockefeller Center Tree From Long Island
- Babylon - A 7-ton, 70-foot tall Norway Spruce from Babylon was erected in Rockefeller Center in 1934. That tree was decorated with 1,200 colored lights and illuminated by four floodlights. It was only the third Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center
- Huntington - The official Rockefeller Center website shows a 50-foot tall tree that came from Huntington during World War II in 1942. The tree went unlit due to black-out regulations. There were actually three trees that year and one was decorated red, another white, and another blue to show support for the troops.
- Long Island - In 1944 a 65-foot, 50-year-old Norway spruce came from somewhere on Long Island. It was another one of the unlit trees since 1941, known as the “Dark Trees." A report said that the trees roots were still bound in burlap when it arrived
- Syosset - In 1945, a 55-foot Norman spruce from Syosset became the first to be illuminated since WWII began. That tree was illuminated by fluorescent lights. A report said that people had been dismayed that the Christmas Trees were being cut down and discarded for the annual tradition. In 1945, the tree had a ball of earth 11-feet in diameter so that it could be replanted at the private estate form which it came, according to a New York Times report. The tree was lit from 5pm until midnight from mid-December until January 1st
- Syosset - In 1946, a 75-foot Norway spruce came from Syosset once again
- Deer Park - In 1947, a 65-foot Norway spruce came from Deer Park. Trimmings included 600 golden plastic balls. Seven miles of electric wire was hung for the electric lights
- 1949 Tree from Yaphank - Probably one of the most celebrated Christmas Trees from Long Island
- Lake Ronkonkoma - In 1951, an 82-foot tall tree came from Lake Ronkonkoma
- Smithtown - In 1961, an 85-foot Norway spruce was shipped from Smithtown. The tree weighed two-and-a-half tons. It was estimated to be 85-years old, making its birthday around 1876. The tree came from a 138-acre former estate off Landing Meadow Road that, according to reports, was being “let go back to nature.” The tree came from a site in front of where a manor house once stood. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Gilmartin, who owned the estate, took the house down ten years prior.
