Newspaper Page Text
Georgia’s First
Christmas Tree
BY: CHARLES E. HOOPER
George Lcthr was puzzled . . •
they didn’t know what he was
talking about! Here it was the
first week of December and none
of his friends and neighbors were
making any plans or preparations.
He had been living in America
only about six months ... he
had worked hard . . . established
his home in Dewey Rose—Elbert
County—Georgia, and had tried
to adopt to the customs and man
ners of his new country and state.
He remembered with pride how
he wrote to his relatives in Ein
beck, Germany of how he had al
ready been accepted into the
community and how much he en
joyed his neighbors visits and
acts of courtesy.
But on this December day in
1850, George Loehr was home
sick. Perhaps he shouldn’t do it
. . . after all none of his neigh
bors were planning on having
one . . . and he wanted so des
perately to be an American and
not be looked upon as a foreigner.
In Germany, already the search
was going on ... to find the
perfect one . . . Days and weeks
were spent in trampling the
forest in the hopes of finding
one even more beautiful than
last year’s. This was one custom
he could not give up . . . much
less forget.
And so George Loehr’s search
began ... he would find one in
America more beautiful than any
he could ever remember having
in Germany. After all, a Christ
mas Tree was the heart of the
home as family and friends
gathered in observance of Christ’s
birthday. Perhaps his new friends
and neighbors in Dewey Rose,
Georgia would appreciate its real
significance.
George Loehr’s search proved
rewarding for the virgin woods
in Elbert County yielded him the
finest tree ever. Carefully he
decorated it with coolored paper
chains, lighted candles and pop
corn on strings and on Christmas
Day he invited all to come and
see this custom that he had
brought with him to America.
His neighbors were delighted
with the idea and the following
year they adopted it. That year
he proved to be the most popular
man in the town as young and
old sought his advice and sugges
tions on how to decorate their
own Christmas tree.
George Loehr ... a young
German immigrant . . . provided
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Georgia with its first Christmas
tree. His custom continues today
... its significance is well re
membered ... it is the heart of
the home at Christmas time . . .
and now “we all know.’’
During this season of the year
Georgians will be journeying far
and near to continue the tradi
tions and customs established
long ago as family and friends
gather together in observance of
the Christmas Season. Perhaps
it’s a trip from Atlanta to Savan
nah . . . Macon to Rome . . .
Greensboro to Blairsville ... or
a hundred other places. Unlike
George Loehr’s neighbors who
had only to walk down the street
to see the first Christmas tree, a
great majority of us will get in
the family car to see our loved
ones . . . but the spirit, fellowship
and “heart of the home” will be
the same. Be sure to ask the
service station operator for the
best route, as well as the condi
tions of the roads. And if by
chance your holiday traveling
takes you through Elbert County
—Dewey Rose, Georgia—remem
ber the young German immigrant
who gave Georgians their first
Christmas tree.
PERSONAL
Coming home for the Christmas
holiday was Richard Swan who is
a student at Georgia Tech. He
will spend the vacation period
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
George L. Swan.
(^reefiwjs
... of the warmest, old-fashioned
kind, from all of us to all of you!
Newton Hardware Cos.
\ A
NEWS
‘RETIRED’ LAND OPENED
TO SELECTED USES
Land retired from production
under the Conservation Reserve
program now may be used for
certain purposes without violation
of the contract, R. H. Burford,
Chairman, Butts Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation
Service County Committee, has
announced.
He explained tha*, ever though
the contract signers charge fees
for the use of the Conservation
Reserve acreage, the following
uses of the land will be permitted
without constituting a contract
violation:
(1) Fishing and hunting enter
prises, except the production of
fish and game for commercial
marketing: (2) camping, exclud
ing permanent trailer courts; (3)
picnicking; (4) boating; (5) rid
ing; (6) hiking; and (7) swim
ming.
The following addtional use?
will be permitted provided the
contract signers do not charge or
receive compensation for such
uses:
(1) Community sports and ath-
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARCUS. JACKSON, GEORGIA
PERSONAL
Ben Garland, student at the
University of Georgia, arrived
home last week to spend the
Christmas holidays with his pa
rents, Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Gar
land, and family.
At home for the Christmas
holidays with homefolks is Billy
Whitaker, student at the Univer
sity of Georgia.
Arriving home last week from
the University of Georgia, was
Reggie Comer, who will spend
Christmas with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. J. M. L. Comer, and
family.
letic activities; (2) carnivals and
fairs; (3) meeting sites for re
ligious, cultural, and educational
groups; (4) Land areas for use
by civil air patrol or noncom
mercial flying; (5) parades; and
(6) military maneuvers.
The Chairman pointed out that,
if the permitted uses or activities
(listed above) result in the area’s
becoming subject to wind and
water erosion, adequate protec
tive measures must be taken at
no cost to the Conservation Re
serve Program. If permanent
type structures or facilities are
erected on the Conservation Re
serve in connection with the per
mitted uses or activities, then the
area occupied by such structures
or facilities shall be removed
from contract.
According to Burford, this
change in program regulations is
in line with current agricultural
policy, which is to convert land
into other uses rather than to
idle it. Farmers who are interes
ted in such uses of Conservation
Reserve land are urged to discuss
the matter with the ASC County
Committee.
~*N all the festive pleasures and merry
companionship of the holiday season. It’s wonderful
to serve our many friends... and we thank you
heartily for your thoughtful consideration and patronage.
City OS Jackson
Gas Department
Serving Jackson, Pepperton and rural areas of Butts and Lamar Counties.
PERSONAL
Billy Presley, student at the
University of Georgia, arrived
home last week to spend the
holidays with homefolks.
Christmas Eve dinner guests of
Mrs. J. B. Harrison will be Mr.
and Mrs. Sams Harrison of Mont
gomery, Ala., Mrs. Miriam S. But
ler of Columbus, Miss Leila
Sams of Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs.
R. 0. Settle of Jackson.
cA Smart ~New 3dea far ...
TRU-FLECT FULL LENGTH
DOOR MIRRORS
THERE WILL BE NO DOUBT ABOUT YOUR HEAD TO TOE APPEARANCE
WITH THESE EASY TO INSTALL "GOOD LOOKING" DOOR MIRRORS.
THIS CHRISTMAS GIVE THE UNUSUAL, GIVE THE GIFT THAT WILL BE
REMEMBERED FOR YEARS.
SEE THESE HIGH QUALITY TRU FLECT MIRRORS AT SPECIAL SEASONAL
PRICES.
CASH & CARRY, INC.
Phone 7955 Jackson, Ga.
PERSONAL
Mr. and Mrs. George Martin
and daughters, Diana and Kathy,
of Thomasville, were weekend
guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. A.
Myers, parents of Mrs. Martin.
Miss Susannah Foster, teacher
in the Griffin School System,
spent Sunday at home with Mrs.
J. A. Leverrett and Foster Lever
rett.
THURSDAY, DEC. 20, 1962
CARD OF THANKS
We would like to take this
opportunity to express our sin
cere appreciation for all the won
derful gestures of sympathy
during the illness and death of
our beloved husband and brother.
The flowers, food, visits and
other acts of kindness made our
grief much easier to bear. May
you always be truly blessed for
these kindnesses. Mrs. Mike
O’Day and Ken McGlone.