IRON MOUNTAIN -- Hundreds of people turned out on a cold and rainy Thursday to watch the official state Christmas tree be taken down on Iron Mountain's North Side.
The 60-foot spruce, which weighs 12,000 pounds, was cut by Quintin Olson, the son of Denny Olson, who was responsible for helping pick out the tree on Vulcan Street. Denny is a member of the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget search and harvest crew, Michigan Association of Timbermen and the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association.
It was selected from among three large spruce trees in the yard of the Larry Riccio family, who purchased the home in 1986. He joked that without the tree there, it will make plowing and snow removal a lot easier. Olson had previously indicated the tree had been on their list of possible state trees.
Riccio's daughter, Elizabeth, said it was exciting to watch the process, adding, "I'm glad it's going to be a Christmas tree."
The tree was harvested with help from the Michigan Association of Timbermen, the GLTPA and DTMB's Christmas tree crew. It will be transported to the Capitol by Gene Brzoznowski & Sons LLC of Sagola, which also transported a tree in 2021. Gene Brzoznowski will be making the trip with his daughter, Shelby. The tree will start downstate today and arrive in Lansing on Saturday.
The tree cutting ceremony Thursday included some remarks from officials, and Christmas songs performed by the high school bands and choirs from Iron Mountain and Kingsford high schools.
"Fifty to 55 years ago it was probably about 12 feet high," Iron Mountain City Mayor Dale Alessandrini said in his remarks to the crowd. "I grew up on the Northside, so it's a privilege to have a tree from the Northside going down to Lansing."
"We're very proud to be a part of this event every year," said Michael Turnquist, senior deputy director of state facilities of the DTMB. "I want to thank you for coming out today. I wanted to be here in Iron Mountain to kick off the holiday season with the harvest of the official 2026 State of Michigan Christmas tree. There are a lot of logistics that go into this harvesting, and taking it more than 400 miles to the state capital."
"Many hands are involved in selecting, harvesting and delivering the state tree, but for the past 25 years Denny Olson has played a special role in that process," he continued. "From being on the lookout for the state's next Christmas tree to working with local officials, schools and community members to pull together to have the celebrations like the one were at today, Denny has been a dedicated volunteer and a steadfast participant to a project that brings happiness to tens of thousands of people each year."
State Sen. Ed McBroom presented Olson with a tribute honoring him for his 25 years, signed by all the Upper Peninsula legislators and other government officials.
"I'm pretty proud to be able to have been a part of this for this many years, but it's a gift to me that I can do this," Olson said.
This was the 26th state Christmas tree selected from the U.P. and the second from Iron Mountain. Five have come from Dickinson County -- two from Kingsford, two from Iron Mountain and one from along M-95 near Sagola. The last tree from Iron Mountain, donated by Jordan and Sarah Wolfenberg, was taken in 2019 from property along U.S. 2 near where Iron Mountain Power Sports was located.
The state tree-lighting ceremony will take place about 7:30 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Nov. 20, at the 42nd-annual Silver Bells in the City celebration in Lansing.
For more information on Silver Bells in the City, go online to SilverBellsintheCity.org or contact Rachel Beatty, marketing manager with Legends Global at r.beatty@lansingcenter.com.
Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.