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The community Christmas tree

Type: Blue spruce.

Height: 28 feet.

Age: Close to 50 years.

Given by: Dean and Helen Kehl, Dalzell Road, Whipple.

Tree lighting ceremony: 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Armory Square.

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There is still more than a month to go until Dec. 25, but folks in downtown Marietta got a taste of the holidays Thursday morning when the city's community Christmas tree made its way to Armory Square.

The blue spruce, which is approximately 28 feet tall, was given to the city by Dean and Helen Kehl of Whipple.

"I read last year where someone had done that (donated a tree to the city), so we decided to call," said Helen Kehl. "We needed it taken down because it was blocking our view, so it was a win-win for everybody."

Helen Kehl's father had worked for the Ohio Department of Highways and brought the tree home from the state nursery as a seedling nearly 50 years ago.

"It was one of two that lived," she said.

Marietta Mayor Michael Mullen went to the Kehls' to take a look at the tree and it met his approval.

"For them to share a piece of their family history with the citizens of Marietta and Washington County, we appreciate it very much," Mullen said.

A crew of four city workers cut the tree down and transported it into town, where the men then hoisted it into position in front of the armory.

"We didn't have any problems," said Chris Hess, with the city streets department. "It was business as usual."

The former Citizens Armory Preservation Society (C.A.P.S.) began a tradition more than a decade ago of putting up a tree at armory square. When the Friends of the Armory group formed, the tradition continued.

"When it became clear that it was a matter of when, not if, we would restore the armory, we decided to pull our resources and have a grand downtown lighting event," Mullen said.

The lights will go up today and a crew from Greenleaf Landscapes will donate their time to decorate the tree on Monday.

The community is invited to the official tree lighting ceremony from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, where they can enjoy hot chocolate served by employees of WASCO Inc. and a performance from the Voices of Triumph Gospel Community Choir.

"It should be a lot of fun and we'll be singing with some spirit," Mullen said, adding, "We also always want to take the time to recognize our military men and women. (The holidays are) a tough time to have loved ones away from home. We recognize that, while in this joyous mode, that this (the armory) is hallowed ground. It is a special place."

Community members that gather around the tree are sure to feel the sense of holiday spirit but some little feathered creatures might wonder what happened to the big blue spruce in the Kehls' yard.

"The birds sure are going to miss it. I guess they'll just have to find a new home," Kehl said.