Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1956: A giant Engelmann spruce tree had passed through Clovis on its way to Washington, D.C., where President Eisenhower planned to light it up on Dec. 20.
The tree was 67 feet tall and 51 years old. It was harvested from Scott Able Canyon in New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest.
State police guarded it until it could be loaded onto two flat cars of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. From there, special agents of the railroad were charged with keeping it safe from souvenir hunters and vandals, the Clovis News-Journal reported. “Only members of the nation’s official family have more protection,” the newspaper claimed.
The tree arrived in Clovis more than three hours later than scheduled, but railroad officials said the lost time would be made up today.
“The New Mexico tree will be the focal point for the World Wide Christmas Pageant of Peace, the purpose of which is to express to all creeds and colors in America and all peoples of the world the Christmas Theme: ‘Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men,’” the newspaper reported.
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