Spruce planted in New York in 1959 becomes Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

Matt Rosenberg
Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 10:58 a.m. | Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 10:58 a.m.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall Norway spruce, is craned onto a flatbed truck after being cut from the yard of Carol Schultz, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall Norway spruce, is craned onto a flatbed truck after being cut from the yard of Carol Schultz, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall is craned onto a flatbed truck after being cut from the yard of Carol Schultz, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

Workers prepare to cut down a 77-foot tall Norway Spruce that will serve as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

Students from local elementary schools cheer as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall Norway Spruce, is cut, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

Local residents watch as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 77-foot tall Norway Spruce, is cut, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

Carol Schultz hugs the trunk of her 77-foot tall Norway Spruce that she donated to serve as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

Workers prepare to cut down a 77-foot tall Norway Spruce that will serve as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Florida, N.Y.

Carol Schultz of Florida, N.Y., planted a 4 foot Norway spruce in her yard in spring 1959.

She wasn’t sure it would survive.

Sixty years later, she watched as the tree was cut down in her yard, lifted by a crane and hauled to New York City, where it will be set up as the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center this season.

“I said, ‘Oh I don’t think it’s gonna take.’ You know how things happen, but it turned out to be a magnificent tree,” Schultz said. “It’s so beautiful, shaped perfect and I’m happy to share it with everybody.”

The 14-ton tree is the 88th Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

The tree lighting in New York is scheduled for Dec. 4.