The 2016 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree arrives to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building from the Payette National Forest in Idaho.Photo: Associated Press/Andrew Harnik
When it comes to decorating the capital for Christmas no mere average tree will do the job, so heavy-duty equipment also must be enlisted to help with the installation as well.
A telescope handler, a JCB 507-42 Loadall to be precise, was used to aid the erection of the 80-foot Englemann spruce on the lawn at Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C.
The tree was selected and transported from Payette National Forest in Idaho, the second evergreen to be chosen from an Idaho forest.
The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree began in 1964, thanks to U.S. Speaker of the House of Representative John W. McCormack. In 1970, the Capitol Architect requested that the Christmas tree be provided by the U.S. Forest Service.
Since then different national forest provides “The People’s Tree” each year. State forests provide the smaller trees that are found in Washington, D.C.’s offices.
“This year has been a milestone one for JCB Loadalls, as the company celebrated the production of its 200,000th telescopic handler,” said a JCB spokesman. “We are delighted to end the year with a Loadall helping get Christmas decorations underway in the American Capital.”
The Loadall can lift 7,000 pounds up to 42 feet. It will reach another milestone next year, as JCB will have been manufacturing their telescopic handlers for 40 years.
