BAY CITY, MI – Even though the tree and displays aren’t lit up yet, Christmas has arrived downtown.

This year’s tree is the largest one yet and it was donated by Sue LaRose in Essexville.

Because of its size and the strong north winds that blew the tree toward her home, it was time to remove it, LaRose said.

The 42-foot tall and 4,600-pound tree originally came from the Oak Beach area in Huron County when LaRose’s family lived there, LaRose said.

LaRose’s sister, Patricia Mauritzson, dug it up and transplanted it to her parents’ home, now LaRose’s, at least 40 years ago.

“We decorated it every year, as long as we could reach it,” LaRose said. “But then it got too big so we couldn’t anymore.”

Since the tree has been a big part of family traditions for so long, it was hard to part with

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