The Rosebud Christmas Tree
The Rosebud News shared its Season’s Greetings with a Giant-Sized Christmas Card in the December 21, 2000 edition with a front-page picture of the REA, Rural Electrification Administration, “Rosebud Christmas Tree” and the front steps entrance and stained-glass window of the First United Methodist Church which was announcing its Christmas Eve Services. But first a little history lesson: The city of Rosebud had electricity, but it wasn’t until Franklin D. Roosevelt created the REA in 1936 so that it was possible to bring electricity to farms and rural areas. It was a big deal for rural families to get electricity. My dad married in 1946 and moved into the same house he was born in. It was located in the Walkers Creek Community of Milam County which had no electricity. He promised my mother that as soon as they ran electrical lines in the county, he would get her a stove, refrigerator, iron and radio. Plus, they would have a light bulb ceiling fixture in each room. He had the house wired and waited for the electricity to come and when it did, he kept his promise to my mother. It certainly made life a lot easier for everyone.
When electricity came to the rural areas of Falls and Milam Counties as well as other surrounding counties in the early 1950’s, the main office of the REA was located in Rosebud. The company erected a tower for communication and strung green lights from it forming a Christmas tree that could be seen at night from miles away during the Christmas season. For sure you could see it from Pond Creek from the south of Rosebud and on Highway 53 you were able to see “the Tree” from Loop 1963 on the hill. You might say that “the Tree” was Rosebud’s calling card of recognition. A num- ber of years ago the REA consolidated with McGregor and formed HOTEC and moved to a new building out of Rosebud on Loop 265. The old REA building was sold several times, and the current owners are Chris and Elsie Troyer of Longhorn Truss near Lott. They have replaced some LED lights on “the Tree” and have kept the tradition alive, continuing to let “the Tree” glow during the Christmas season.
Several years ago, the First United Methodist Church had their stainedglass windows refurbished with new protective plexiglass. The previous glass was cloudy and made it difficult to see the actual figures. Now the white cross can be seen on top in the front entrance stained-glass window much more clearly.
Which brings us back to the rest of the story. The Rosebud Christmas Parade was held December 5, 2019, and Carol Stock watched it from the steps of the Methodist Church. She remembered the Rosebud News picture from nearly twenty years earlier and captured a similar picture of the Rosebud Christmas Tree and the Methodist Church entrance. She even had copies made of the picture and sent it as a Christmas card to several former Rosebud friends who would remember “the Tree” with fond memories. She received several replies that the picture brought back special memories because they had all grown up in Rosebud and “the Tree” was always a part of Rosebud and the Christmas season.
When the News advertised a Christmas Story and Photo Contest, I thought what a neat way to celebrate 25 years since the first Rosebud Christmas Tree picture was printed in the Rosebud News. It might bring back old memories of the Rosebud News, “the Tree”, and the Methodist Church. The Rosebud News is no longer owned and operated by the Killgore Family. The Tree’s lights were replaced with LEDs over the years, no longer having those large green bulbs. The Methodist Church no longer has Christmas Eve Services due to its elderly members who do not drive at night. Circumstances have changed many things in our lives, but the Christmas season still carries the same message. Because of God’s love for all of us, he sent Jesus to be born to be our Messiah, to save us from sin. As we approach this Christmas season, let us all remember that Christmas symbolizes love, hope, salvation and a way to find eternal life through our faith in Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.