Northern Ohio's Impact On How We Celebrate Christmas - Thank You Leon Bibb
Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2023 4:48 pm
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Kwanzaa, and New Year To All.
Photos at the end...
I would like to thank Multi Hall of Famer Journalist/broadcaster, Leon Bibb (awards include Cleveland Press Club, Distinguished Journalist) for peaking my interest in the lore of O'Tannenbaum. Leon Bibb is one of Northern Ohio’s most trusted names in journalism and broadcasting. His heart for others, and his love of Cleveland is obvious in every thing he does. HOWEVER...
Last week during the WKYC 75th Anniversary, they were highlighting shows from the past, and one of them was from reporter Leon Bibb. The subject, “Where was the first Christmas tree in America?” According to Mr. Bibb, the house is located in Wooster! Now this shook me to the bones, for two reasons, 1) Leon Bibb’s word is gold. 2) How the heck could this be? A German tradition restarts again in Ohio?
I called hogwash on this one. Nah, just can't be, so I get on the Intr-A-Nets, and do a search and sure enough, an amazing amount of historians, and journalists credit Wooster as the birth. With doubt in my heart, and a burning curiosity to know more. Deb and I head south to Wooster on Christmas Eve. I am so glad I did, and thank you Mr. Bibb.
Was it the first Christmas Tree in America? Maybe not, but it might have been the first decorated Christmas Tree in a house in America. And if it fails that hurdle, it certainly owns “The first printed record of the First Lit Christmas Tree In A House In America,” also known as “the modern Christmas tree.” But more about that later. There is also a claim from Cleveland, Ohio, but we'll get to that later too.
Back to Wooster… The way the story goes is that in 1847, German Immigrant August Imgard, was heartbroken and missing Germany. In the December snow, August went into the nearby woods and chopped down a spruce. The spruce being favored by the Germans for Christmas Trees. He brought it inside, placed it near the rectangular bay window, and decorated it with candles and paper ornaments. Over the next couple years, with the advent of paraffin wax and candles, the practice grew and grew.
Meanwhile, right here in Cleveland, on the site of Cleveland Public Hall sat the original Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (now on East 30th). Its minister, Reverend Henrick C Schwan, also a German immigrant, was homesick for old customs as well, and in 1851 erected a spruce Christmas Tree in the church decorating it with cookies and candles.
But in 1851, the congregation, and community were not as won over with the “burning bush” in the church. “It was reported that the talk on the street was “Those Lutherans are worshipping a bush!” But as what happened in Wooster, happened in Cleveland over the next two years, with more and more Christmas Trees with paraffin candles becoming the style of the day.
Now Cleveland’s claim is that it was the first lit Christmas Tree in a Church in America, and no one is arguing that fact. As for Wooster it was not recorded in print in 1847, but many print stories that appear shortly after refer to the August Imgard and the 1847 start date in Wooster.
The Wooster Kiwanian's planted a spruce tree next to August Imgrad's tomb in Wooster Cemetery. They decorate it every Christmas.
Reverend Henrick C Schwan is buried in Lakeview cemetery in a plain grave in the family plot. Cleveland Kiwanis also planted a pine tree next to his headstone as well. Sadley, it was not decorated this year. Why?
So in one day, Deb and I were able to visit the first Christmas tree in a house, the first in a church, and then onto the third stop in this Christmas Eve tour. "The personification of commercialization of Christmas." “The Christmas Story” house.”Located in the ever growing Tremont Area/Steelyard neighborhood. This house was used in the movie “A Christmas Story,” now a holiday classic. It represents a young boy, going through life, when he spies a Red Ryder BB gun, and what he is willing to do to get one from Santa. It has also replaced the pastime of placing Christmas trees in living room windows to a semi naked fishnetted leg lamp now on display in the tens of thousands of windows around the country, and maybe the world. Kinda weird, but I digress.To be honest, it is a wonderful holiday movie, and like all the stops in this holiday tour, it is well worth the stop if you are in the neighborhood.
Pretty wild just how entrenched Northern Ohio, and Cleveland are in celebrating Christmas!
peace/love The O'Bryans
The bay window where August Imgard displayed the first lit, inside, decorated Christmas Tree!
The house is at 521 Beall St, Wooster, Ohio.
Side of the house with the bay window.
Wooster Cemetery
The grave site of August Imgard. You can see the Christmas tree to the left of the grave site. Planted by Wooster Kiwanis and maintained by them.
In Cleveland all that is left of the original Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is this plaque...
... and Cleveland Public Hall which was built on the site.
Reverend Henrick C Schwan's family plot in Lakeview Cemetary. You can see the tree planted next to the headstone.
Reverend Henrick C Schwan headstone.
The "A Christmas Story" house in Tremont/Steelyard area of Cleveland is a must stop for all fans of Christmas and the movies.
Thanks again to Leon Bibb, it was a fascinating and fun day!
.
Photos at the end...
I would like to thank Multi Hall of Famer Journalist/broadcaster, Leon Bibb (awards include Cleveland Press Club, Distinguished Journalist) for peaking my interest in the lore of O'Tannenbaum. Leon Bibb is one of Northern Ohio’s most trusted names in journalism and broadcasting. His heart for others, and his love of Cleveland is obvious in every thing he does. HOWEVER...
Last week during the WKYC 75th Anniversary, they were highlighting shows from the past, and one of them was from reporter Leon Bibb. The subject, “Where was the first Christmas tree in America?” According to Mr. Bibb, the house is located in Wooster! Now this shook me to the bones, for two reasons, 1) Leon Bibb’s word is gold. 2) How the heck could this be? A German tradition restarts again in Ohio?
I called hogwash on this one. Nah, just can't be, so I get on the Intr-A-Nets, and do a search and sure enough, an amazing amount of historians, and journalists credit Wooster as the birth. With doubt in my heart, and a burning curiosity to know more. Deb and I head south to Wooster on Christmas Eve. I am so glad I did, and thank you Mr. Bibb.
Was it the first Christmas Tree in America? Maybe not, but it might have been the first decorated Christmas Tree in a house in America. And if it fails that hurdle, it certainly owns “The first printed record of the First Lit Christmas Tree In A House In America,” also known as “the modern Christmas tree.” But more about that later. There is also a claim from Cleveland, Ohio, but we'll get to that later too.
Back to Wooster… The way the story goes is that in 1847, German Immigrant August Imgard, was heartbroken and missing Germany. In the December snow, August went into the nearby woods and chopped down a spruce. The spruce being favored by the Germans for Christmas Trees. He brought it inside, placed it near the rectangular bay window, and decorated it with candles and paper ornaments. Over the next couple years, with the advent of paraffin wax and candles, the practice grew and grew.
Meanwhile, right here in Cleveland, on the site of Cleveland Public Hall sat the original Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (now on East 30th). Its minister, Reverend Henrick C Schwan, also a German immigrant, was homesick for old customs as well, and in 1851 erected a spruce Christmas Tree in the church decorating it with cookies and candles.
But in 1851, the congregation, and community were not as won over with the “burning bush” in the church. “It was reported that the talk on the street was “Those Lutherans are worshipping a bush!” But as what happened in Wooster, happened in Cleveland over the next two years, with more and more Christmas Trees with paraffin candles becoming the style of the day.
Now Cleveland’s claim is that it was the first lit Christmas Tree in a Church in America, and no one is arguing that fact. As for Wooster it was not recorded in print in 1847, but many print stories that appear shortly after refer to the August Imgard and the 1847 start date in Wooster.
The Wooster Kiwanian's planted a spruce tree next to August Imgrad's tomb in Wooster Cemetery. They decorate it every Christmas.
Reverend Henrick C Schwan is buried in Lakeview cemetery in a plain grave in the family plot. Cleveland Kiwanis also planted a pine tree next to his headstone as well. Sadley, it was not decorated this year. Why?
So in one day, Deb and I were able to visit the first Christmas tree in a house, the first in a church, and then onto the third stop in this Christmas Eve tour. "The personification of commercialization of Christmas." “The Christmas Story” house.”Located in the ever growing Tremont Area/Steelyard neighborhood. This house was used in the movie “A Christmas Story,” now a holiday classic. It represents a young boy, going through life, when he spies a Red Ryder BB gun, and what he is willing to do to get one from Santa. It has also replaced the pastime of placing Christmas trees in living room windows to a semi naked fishnetted leg lamp now on display in the tens of thousands of windows around the country, and maybe the world. Kinda weird, but I digress.To be honest, it is a wonderful holiday movie, and like all the stops in this holiday tour, it is well worth the stop if you are in the neighborhood.
Pretty wild just how entrenched Northern Ohio, and Cleveland are in celebrating Christmas!
peace/love The O'Bryans
The bay window where August Imgard displayed the first lit, inside, decorated Christmas Tree!
The house is at 521 Beall St, Wooster, Ohio.
Side of the house with the bay window.
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.lakewoodobserver.com/images_full_res/9d4848a98a59d1f14bd5ba782be5d7a4.jpg
Wooster Cemetery
The grave site of August Imgard. You can see the Christmas tree to the left of the grave site. Planted by Wooster Kiwanis and maintained by them.
In Cleveland all that is left of the original Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is this plaque...
... and Cleveland Public Hall which was built on the site.
Reverend Henrick C Schwan's family plot in Lakeview Cemetary. You can see the tree planted next to the headstone.
Reverend Henrick C Schwan headstone.
The "A Christmas Story" house in Tremont/Steelyard area of Cleveland is a must stop for all fans of Christmas and the movies.
Thanks again to Leon Bibb, it was a fascinating and fun day!
.