By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Hundreds got into the holiday mood Thursday night when New Hampshire’s official Christmas tree was lit in East Concord.
The event at Bridges House, the governor’s official residence, included Concord’s Rundlett Middle School choir singing Christmas carols, a visit from Santa Claus himself and a countdown to the lighting led by Gov. Chris Sununu. Cheers went up as hundreds of blue, green, white and red lights and a big white star at the top were lit on the massive and beefy conifer which wasn’t cut and hauled there, but grows on the grounds in front of the 1835 brick house.
Among the many encircling the tree was the Byers family.
Levi Byers, wife Ana Byers, son Ezra and Luca, and the boys’ grandmother, Amy Upton, all of Concord were among the crowd enjoying the music, food and lights.
Upton had purchased strings of lights for the children to wear around their necks and they enjoyed some complimentary hot chocolate and candy canes before being invited into the grand house decorated for the holidays.
Sununu was accompanied by Gov.-elect Kelly Ayotte who will succeed him next month as he concludes his eight years in office and said for him it was an early Christmas gift that she was elected to succeed him.
He recalled coming to the tree lights when his father was governor and the many years he has spent heralding in the holidays in front of the same beautiful tree.
The halls of the State House, now, are also decked for the holidays and worth a tour.
The Christmas tree on Main Street in Concord outside the arches to the State House belongs to the City of Concord.
To see the true State of New Hampshire tree, not cut but growing, is a quick drive up the Interstate and on the other side of the river, north by a few miles but worth the view.
A fresh blanket of snow helped get the crowd in the mood and the governor acted as the master of ceremonies, noting that Santa had been tracked on Google Maps and was in the vicinity.
After “the big Guy” arrived, and said all the kids want tech toys this year, Sununu told all, it was time to “light the candle.”
After the count down and lighting, the governor opened the doors to Bridges House for hot dogs and snacks.
Donated to the state by former Gov. Henry Styles Bridges (1898-1961), a teacher, editor and member of the Republican Party who was also a former U.S. Senator from 1937-61 and a leader of the conservative wing of the party, he was the 73rd governor of New Hampshire.
Elected in 1934 following service as a member of the New Hampshire Public Service Commission, Bridges was mindful of the needs of others and elevating women during his time in office.
According to the National Governors Association, during his tenure he provided relief that benefited needy children, promoted a fair unemployment insurance bill and saw to it that the first woman was appointed to the state judiciary.
He left as a bequest to the state the property on Mountain Road which is a historically and architecturally significant house and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
