History from OHA: A Truncated History of Christmas Trees in Syracuse

The Christmas tree placed annually in Clinton Square has become a highly anticipated event in today’s downtown Syracuse come the end of November. 

This ceremony in Syracuse began in 1914 and followed a trend first seen in New York City in 1912. The tree, christened the Tree of Light, symbolized a message of peace in a then warring world. By 1915, the trend spread with over 1,000 communities hosting similar ceremonies. Syracuse’s first trees were originally placed in St. Mary’s Circle (now Columbus Circle) and early ceremonies involved a live Nativity pageant using Syracuse University staff and students. Local school and church choirs, accompanied by other adult musical groups entertained crowds with their renditions of traditional carols. In 1933, when St. Mary’s Circle was being prepared for the arrival of the statue of Columbus, the tree was moved to Clinton Square, where it overlooked the Erie Canal and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. 

However, in 2000 — for one year only — the Christmas tree was placed in Hanover Square. Clinton Square was then undergoing extensive renovations which also included the installation of a newly built skating rink. Initially, the tree itself was chosen from the now defunct city nursery or a nearby forest preserve. Since 1963, the tree has been donated by area residents or property owners that wish to remove a large evergreen (the city asks for a Norway Spruce) from their yard.

Although the Christmas holiday was celebrated in Syracuse churches as early as 1825, the existence of decorated trees in local homes was not recorded until 1848 (the first home tree was recorded nationally in Ohio in 1847). 

Dennis McCarthy, department store owner and church leader, has been credited with setting up the first Christmas tree in his home on West Willow Street in Syracuse. However, one of the more infamous early Christmas trees was found in the home of Jacob Amos and his family in 1852. Mr. Amos ran a boarding house on N. Salina Street that also contained a popular drinking establishment in the basement. One evening, just before Christmas, some of the regular bar patrons discussed procuring a tree and decorating it for the benefit of the Amos’ small children. This group was joined by Native American, “Squirrel Joe.” A regular visitor to the city, he was most familiar with the group’s wilderness destination at the top of what is now James Street (then named Foot Street where such trees were plentiful. A severe snowstorm struck however as soon as they reached the Lodi Street intersection. Although the group voted to turn back, Joe, ax in hand, chose to continue on. Much to the amazement of the group, he rejoined them quickly — dragging a perfect evergreen tree behind him. Unbeknownst to them, Joe had cut down one of the trees that framed the front entrance of a large house located on James Street. None the wiser, Jacob Amos gratefully accepted the beautiful fir and placed the tree trimmed with tallow candles, stick candy, nuts and apples, accentuated by colorful paper garlands, in his front room surprising his children on Christmas Eve. 

Today, decorating a tree, both outside and inside the home, has become a time-honored tradition for many people.

Karen Y. Cooney is support services administrator at the Onondage Historical Association in Syracuse.

The Christmas tree placed annually in Clinton Square has become a highly anticipated event in today’s downtown Syracuse come the end of November. 

This ceremony in Syracuse began in 1914 and followed a trend first seen in New York City in 1912. The tree, christened the Tree of Light, symbolized a message of peace in a then warring world. By 1915, the trend spread with over 1,000 communities hosting similar ceremonies. Syracuse’s first trees were originally placed in St. Mary’s Circle (now Columbus Circle) and early ceremonies involved a live Nativity pageant using Syracuse University staff and students. Local school and church choirs, accompanied by other adult musical groups entertained crowds with their renditions of traditional carols. In 1933, when St. Mary’s Circle was being prepared for the arrival of the statue of Columbus, the tree was moved to Clinton Square, where it overlooked the Erie Canal and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. 

However, in 2000 — for one year only — the Christmas tree was placed in Hanover Square. Clinton Square was then undergoing extensive renovations which also included the installation of a newly built skating rink. Initially, the tree itself was chosen from the now defunct city nursery or a nearby forest preserve. Since 1963, the tree has been donated by area residents or property owners that wish to remove a large evergreen (the city asks for a Norway Spruce) from their yard.

Although the Christmas holiday was celebrated in Syracuse churches as early as 1825, the existence of decorated trees in local homes was not recorded until 1848 (the first home tree was recorded nationally in Ohio in 1847). 

Dennis McCarthy, department store owner and church leader, has been credited with setting up the first Christmas tree in his home on West Willow Street in Syracuse. However, one of the more infamous early Christmas trees was found in the home of Jacob Amos and his family in 1852. Mr. Amos ran a boarding house on N. Salina Street that also contained a popular drinking establishment in the basement. One evening, just before Christmas, some of the regular bar patrons discussed procuring a tree and decorating it for the benefit of the Amos’ small children. This group was joined by Native American, “Squirrel Joe.” A regular visitor to the city, he was most familiar with the group’s wilderness destination at the top of what is now James Street (then named Foot Street where such trees were plentiful. A severe snowstorm struck however as soon as they reached the Lodi Street intersection. Although the group voted to turn back, Joe, ax in hand, chose to continue on. Much to the amazement of the group, he rejoined them quickly — dragging a perfect evergreen tree behind him. Unbeknownst to them, Joe had cut down one of the trees that framed the front entrance of a large house located on James Street. None the wiser, Jacob Amos gratefully accepted the beautiful fir and placed the tree trimmed with tallow candles, stick candy, nuts and apples, accentuated by colorful paper garlands, in his front room surprising his children on Christmas Eve. 

Today, decorating a tree, both outside and inside the home, has become a time-honored tradition for many people.

Karen Y. Cooney is support services administrator at the Onondage Historical Association in Syracuse.