Family's 50-year-old Logan Square tree becomes Chicago’s star in Millennium Park

Christmas is coming to Chicago, and this year's main tree’s story is doubly special! The city has its perfect Christmas tree, and it comes with a lovely family story dating back 50 years. 

The 53-foot-tall Colorado Blue Spruce once stood tall in Logan Square on the 2500 block of North Kimball. This Christmas tree holds special significance. Jim Mulligan, affectionately known as the unofficial "mayor of Logan Square," planted the spruce decades ago, reflecting his deep love for the neighborhood and his commitment to helping others, according to Block Club Chicago.

The 111th official Chicago Christmas tree also grew alongside Mulligan’s daughter, Gerrie. She fondly recalls playing games with her brother and neighborhood kids around the tree, saying, 'It’s like it grew with us.' Although Jim passed away in 2022, his tree will now bring joy to thousands of visitors this Christmas season.

After Mulligan's passing, Sarah Holden and her family moved into his historic Logan Square home. Upon learning about Mulligan's profound impact on the neighborhood, Sarah had an idea: she wrote to the city, nominating the spruce as Chicago’s official Christmas tree. Her proposal stood out among many applicants, and to her delight, the city selected the tree.

In 2023, Darien's De La Cruz family gave its 45-foot Colorado Blue Spruce as Chicago's 110th Christmas tree. It had been in their yard for 37 years before it lit up Millennium Park. The tree beat out 99 other candidates. 

How long does the Chicago’s Christmas tree  stay up? The tree will be moved to its new home in Millennium Park, near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, this year and will remain up till Jan 8, 2025. The city is planting 12 new trees in Logan Square to replace this special one. The lighting ceremony will take place on Friday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m., the big moment everyone’s been waiting for.

For Jim’s daughter, Gerrie, this memorial is the perfect way to honor the life and love that his father first established in this Northwest Side neighborhood. 

According to ABC7 Chicago, Jim's only granddaughter, Chloe Torres, shares this sentiment. "Just everyone gathering here to see this happen explains it," Chloe said, "I can just feel his presence with us. It means a lot. It really does.”

The city picks trees carefully, looking not just at how tall and full they are but also thinking about how they can safely cut them down and move them to Millennium Park.

Holden added that she is proud Jim's tree will now be part of Chicago's history, just like he was an important part of Logan Square's story. "Seeing it downtown and being in front of all those people, I was very surprised and very excited. I think over the coming weeks, it will sink in a bit more."