November 23, 1915
Pioneer Plaza Selected As Location; Chamber Of commerce Backs Plan.
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Christmas Songs By A Big Chorus
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Plan Is To Have Songs on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Under Tree
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A municipal Christmas tree, to be erected in Pioneer Plaza, where all the holiday shoppers may see it and catch the real spirit of Christmas, is a plan that has been suggested to the chamber of commerce and one which publicity director George H. Clements is now working out.
The plan is to have a great tree cut near Cloudcroft and shipped to El Paso for the city's Christmas tree. This, it is planned, will be erected in the center of Pioneer Plaza by means of wooden supports and guy wires and upon this giant Christmas tree will be strung hundreds of various colored electric lights. The city council has ordered Pioneer Plaza cleared of automobiles so that the tree will occupy the downtown triangle, and, with its illuminations at night, it will make a beautiful holiday picture.
Have Big Chorus.
It is planned to have the Christmas tree erected and illuminated at least a week before Christmas and to keep it burning thoughout Christmas week. An effort will be made to have the big chorus choir which sang for the Liberty Bell celebration, under the direction of James Graham McNary, sing patriotic songs and Christmas carols on Christmas eve and New Year's eve under the big Christmas tree and to have this the occasion for a municipal Christmas and New Year's celebration.
No Presents.
The suggested plan does not include the giving of presents or any charity features, as the chamber of commerce does not wish to conflict with the Associated Charities, Elks and other charitable organizations in their work. The idea of the municipal Christmas tree is to create a real Christmas spirit throughout the city by having the beautifully illuminated Christmas tree in the plaza where everyone who comes downtown to shop, as everyone will do during Christmas week, will see the tree and will catch the real Christmas spirit.
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