Tree is just one way Natchez is special

By Kevin Cooper (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, December 1, 2007

They’re putting a tree where? I remember the first time I heard of the famous Natchez Christmas Tree tradition.

Puzzled is probably the best word to describe my reaction.

But hearing of it and first seeing it back in 1993 were two different things.

Seeing the long installation ordeal, my reaction turned from being puzzled to being amazed.

Back then, the trees were real, huge monster trees hoisted in place by cranes and cables.

Although it was probably much less, it always seemed like a couple of dozen workers wrestled the tree into place.

Power company workers were there to help electrify the over-the-top, traffic ornament.

And you thought putting lights on your little Christmas tree was a chore; think about their task.

If my memory is still sound, I think at one point the tree sat on the pavement and was held in place by wires in the center of the Main and Commerce intersection each.

Then I believe they put some more permanent fastening system, a huge steel tree stand bolted to the ground.

To my young eyes back then, the whole orchestra of activity around getting this tree put up in the middle of the road seemed a bit over the top.

Actually, it seemed a bit odd — and more than a bit of a traffic hazard.

Driving past the barricaded base of the tree, I couldn’t help chuckle a bit here and there when you’d see tire marks and bumper dents adding new decorations to the setup.

But I was a little naïve then, no, I was a lot naïve then.

I suppose I still am in many ways, but now the tree has become something I look for as a sign that the holidays are near.

At some point, I realized something. Putting a tree in the middle of the road is just one of the million things that makes Natchez such an amazing place to live.

The Natchez area is known for being a place “where the old South still lives,” but residents know Natchez is much more than antebellum mansions — though they’re certainly important.

Many area businesses are located here, not because they have to be here, but because they want to be here.

Next time you drive down Canal Street, just past the U.S. Post Office, check out the Callon Petroleum building. It’s a beautiful building, but what’s great about it is that it’s here.

Given Callon’s business — exploring for petroleum and natural gas — it might be much more convenient for the company to be elsewhere, but they like Natchez. And we’re grateful for their presence.

Ditto for other businesses — even relatively new businesses like Bad Boy Buggies. Natchez is home and they’re proud to be among our important business community — that’s often unnoticed behind the white columns and azaleas.

Have you ever noticed how many times regional and even national TV shows manage to show up on our collective front porch to tell Natchez stories — both past tales and current offerings?

From Mississippi’s own favorite son wanderer Walt Grayson to a myriad of specialty programs, Natchez is on the map and it’s a blessing for which we should all be thankful this holiday season.

No offense to our good neighbors in Southwest Mississippi, but episodes featuring Natchez seem to outweigh the others at least 3 to 1, maybe more.

It’s easy for us to take all of the outside attention for granted.

“Oh, look, honey, The New York Times was here again yesterday.”

“When does that Food Show special run?”

It’s just another day in Natchez.

You know Natchez, don’t you?

It’s that charming river city where they put up a Christmas tree in the middle of the road.

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.