Christmas Tree Lane- the history Mike Manning wont allow on wikipedia

Christmas tree Lane is Southern California's oldest and longest Christmas time celebration. In 1920 Fredrick Nash, the founder of Nash's Department Store, a one time tile designer for Grubey Tile and the local dealer for Grubey and Gustav Stickley, had the idea of taking the old Woodbury mansion driveway that had become Santa Rosa and lighting that mile of deodar lined streets with those newfangled electric light bulbs. Mr. Nash in so doing invented the concept of outdoor electric Christmas Lighting. In his mind he was joining the latest technology with the arts. He created what is still THE CLASSIC Christmas lighting display and what was the first.

In the early years, the Christmas Tree Lane was supported by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. Electrical extension cords were run in those days across front lawns to the lights in the trees. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce paid everyone's electric bill on the lane for the month of December in order to light the trees. The lane was so popular that traffic on Santa Rosa was routed when the lane was lit in one direction from the north to the south. Armies of boy scouts from the 1920's until about 1980 closed off cross streets, allowing only lane residents in. ( I had this duty in 1968, 1969 and 1970)

In the 1940's the lane was closed for the duration of World War two, but reopened shortly thereafter.

In the 1950's Pasadena attempted to annex Altadena. Altadenans being Altadenans, declined by a large margin in the vote. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Rotary withdrew their support for the Lane and started lighting Hastings Ranch. The Citizens of Altadena, with help from the County of Los Angeles, the Edison Company and the IBEW, built a infrastructure for lighting that ran wires through the trees. Edison donated the power every year, and volunteers made new light lines (As Pasadena removed and destroyed the original ones- Spiteful bunch those Pasadenans), tended the trees, and put up the lane.

In recent years the lane was threatened by dieing trees and the Christmas tree Lane Association began it's own deodar nursery and began to replant the street trees along Santa Rosa, since the County of Los Angeles never seemed to get around to it. Of course the lane had to beg and scrape permission to replant the Counties trees for free. Such is the nature of government.

The Christmas Tree Lane Association at that time also began to lower the wattage of each individual bulb. the old bulbs were sturdy, 40 watt painted bulbs. They used a lot of power, but didn't deliver much light. The lane began to swap them out for 11 watt bulbs with a transparent coloring to deliver the same light for less wattage.

The next challenge came in the form of California's electrical deregulation. Edison could no longer supply free power. Meters had to be installed. Meters require a permit from the building department. The building department took one look at the 1954 electrical system that the County of Los Angeles public works department employees had installed way back when and freaked out. Demands and threats were made, but the County, mostly through the efforts of Supervisor Mike Antonovich, actually stepped up and built the new system. The members of Christmas Tree Lane raise the money to light it every year. Every year it's a struggle (hint- donate some money)

Currently, the Christmas tree Lane Association has been buying the new LED lights. We get as much light as our old 11 watt bulbs for 1 watt of power. We havn't found a manufacturer who will donate bulbs yet, so we have been slowly paying $17.50 per bulb to buy them. They are very hardy and should last literally forever, once we can get all the replacements in. Unless we get a major donor or a company donates for the great advertising value it will take many years as we have 12,000 bulbs. But we are doing our part for the planet as we can afford to.

The Board of christmas tree Lane goes through cycles. many left four years ago, and its been a time of rebuilding and new volunteers learning how to climb trees, pully up lines and drape them well on trees. There is again a codre of well trained volunteers who are in their sweet spot. The lane this year looks magical. It is shimmering with light, yet not at all garish. A peaceful artful joyous celebration of all that fills mens hearts with goodness during this time of year.

And Tony Ward, the current President of Christmas Tree Lane Association did Fredrick Nash proud by having started to go the LED way. he is as Nash did 90 years ago, bringing the latest technology with the arts. the Board did Nash and all those Altadenans since the mid 1950's proud too by continuing the tradition of Altadena VOLUNTEERISM and refusing corporate sponsorship that demanded any ugly garish signage to ruin the true spirituality of the lane.

Here in Altadena, money is the tool that serves the lane that blesses mankind. It is not the master. Here on Christmas tree Lane, Altadenas proud culture still lives.

ENJOY.