Coeur d'Alene Christmas remains timeless

COEUR d’ALENE — Despite the changes Coeur d’Alene has seen over the years, at least one thing has largely remained the same: Christmas has a way of bringing people together.

Before thousands gathered in front of The Coeur d’Alene Resort for the lighting ceremony, for example, there was the quieter affair of the Tubbs Hill tree.

The first mention of this decades-spanning tradition was in 1948 in a Spokane Chronicle article titled “Tubbs Hill gets Christmas Tree.” The tree was decorated by local electricians and people gathered around it for a “community sing” when the tree was lit.

The tradition was so popular that some even wanted to rename Tubbs Hill.

“As a suggestion, why not rename Tubbs Hill ‘Christmas Tree Hill’ in honor of our electricians?” wrote Coeur d’Alene resident O.W. Edmonds in a Dec. 21, 1960, letter to The Press. “The Christmas tree is one of our native trees and I don’t think Tubbs is a very appropriate name for anything lighted so beautifully.”

Just as the community came together in celebration of the Tubbs Hill tree, so did they when the tree was the subject of repeated vandalism. In 1959, lights on the tree were broken, resulting in public outcry and a $75 reward being offered for information — almost $815 in today’s dollars.

“Damage to the Tubbs Hill Christmas tree has aroused residents of Coeur d’Alene more than any other single act in recent years,” read a Press article from Dec. 23, 1959.

Sadly, the tree was subject to vandalism for many years to come, but an ad for the Tubbs Hill Christmas Tree Fund ran in the paper until at least 1987.

The sharing of traditions between local families and neighbors has long been a way Coeur d’Alene has maintained its community bond.

In 1928, Helen and Earl Campell of Coeur d’Alene sent a Christmas card to their neighbors, Red and Lauretta McKillop, that contained a joking message about the card needing to be returned.

To continue the joke, the McKillops signed and returned the card the next year, beginning a tradition spanning 50 years even after one of the families moved out of the area.

“The yellowed five cent card with its long list of dated signatures made its way through the postal system again this Christmas,” read a Press article from Dec. 22, 1977. “Mr. McKillop and Mr. Campell passed away in 1974, but Helen and Lauretta will continue the 50-year Christmas card exchange that each year links two families who once were neighbors in Coeur d’Alene.”

Though traditions have a way of evolving over time, Christmas has remained much the same at its core: meaningful moments shared with loved ones.

This is especially seen through the eyes of children.

“We always pick a day to go see the Christmas lights at the resort and eat dinner at Dockside,” a child named Shay told the Press in a Dec. 23, 2005, article. “Either before or after dinner, we always look at the gingerbread houses in the Shops. Usually our family makes a gingerbread house to put on display.”

“On Christmas Eve we give my family and friends goodies,” a child named Maria said in the same article. “Then we go look at Christmas lights. Then we go home, we open the presents, and we eat good food.”  

    This photo from Nov. 30, 1989 shows a young Coeur d'Alene boy sharing his Christmas wishes with Santa at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.
  

    This Christmas card was sent back and forth between the Campell and McKillop families every Christmas for over 50 years. Pictured here in 1977.