Title	World's Largest Living Christmas Tree - Hilton Park.
Subject	Hilton Park, Christmas Tree
Description	For many years, Wilmington's community Christmas tree was erected at the entrance to City Hall on Third Street. In the fall of 1928, James E. L. Wade (1889- 1980), a city commissioner, came up with the idea to have a living Christmas tree. A contest was held in New Hanover County to select the largest live tree, but one that would be easy for the public to reach. The winning selection was a massive live oak, near the City Water Works at the northern end of Fourth Street (Hilton Park). It was over seventy feet tall and estimated to be over two hundred years old at that time. First lighted on Christmas Eve, 1928, the tree was decorated with over 500 multi-colored lights entwined in its enormous spread of limbs and loaded with tons of Spanish moss. A program of secular and religious music and readings was held, with Santa Claus making an appearance. Except for during World War II, the large live oak tree has been decorated and lit annually and is known by the impressive name of The World's Largest Living Christmas Tree.
Source	Louis T. Moore Collection 384