The First Christmas Tree

The first Christmas tree of record in Charlotte County was decorated by pupils of the little Huckeby school at Cleveland, Fla., in 1892 -- according to an early newspaper story by "Old Sundown."

Certain Identity of the writer is concealed by his pen name, a custom then for newspaper correspondents. He is believed to be Allan King, a deputy sheriff with a knack for poetry and feature stories. His account was published in the Dec. 21, 1969, issue of the "Punta Gorda Herald" and needs no embellishment:

FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE AT CLEVELAND

It was a hot, windless afternoon, that long ago Nov. 1892, when petite Sarah Elizabeth Morton held classes in the little one-room Huckeby School one mile northeast of Cleveland.

Not a leaf stirred, nor a bird chirped, but Sarah's quick mind was not thinking of the heat, nor the unpainted walls, nor the three rows of seats. No indeed! Sarah was thinking of Christmas. Only two or three of her pupils had heard of a Christmas tree, and Sarah had decided to do something about that.

She drew up a piece of paper, took pen in hand and drafted a letter to her aunt in New York. The latter was a plea for a pound of popcorn and a pound of firm, dry cranberries. Today, a similar request would perhaps seem a little silly, but her father, Lorenzo Clisby, who owned the Peace River Lodge, did not think it out of place at the time.

The precious shipment reached Sarah only a few days before Christmas, and she was jubilant. That Friday she sent three of the bigger boys to "fetch a pert little tree about this high." Meanwhile, she and the rest of the children built a tiny fire outside. Sarah delighted the children by demonstrating the phenomenon of popping corn in a frying pan her 5-year-old son, Fred, Jr., had carried from home.

Sarah then busied all the children into stringing the popped corn and the hard, bright cranberries. Shortly the boys commissioned to find the tree returned with one "of many branches, a tree to be festooned with wreath and garland."

Quickly the tree was fitted with a stand. Sarah led the children in winding the long strings of popcorn and cranberries round and round the tree. Enthusiasm generated by the lovely Sarah was caught up by all the children. Classes were forgotten.

Christmas was the following Sunday, and Sarah felt that the story of Christ was appropriate. She dismissed the children early with the request that they come back with their parents "after supper."

Sarah and her son hurried down the worn path through the palmettos and pines back to her home in the Peace River Lodge. Her spirit was not daunted when her father reminded her that it was the Friday before Christmas, and people probably would be pursuing their own pleasures.

Sarah Elizabeth Morton saw to it that her father was fed well that evening. Then she asked the stable boy to hitch the little bays up to the surrey and stand by at the hallway entrance.

After dining, Mr. Clisby started to the great parlor to fill his after-dinner pipe. His glance out the hall door arrested him in mid-stride. He smiled, completed his mission, donned his suit coat and called to his daughter. Sarah and Fred, Jr., appeared as if by magic in their evening clothes. The three marched to the waiting surrey -- each smiling their own thoughts.

A School Program

They arrived at the little school in a very short time. Sarah opened the door, got down two coal-oil lamps and fussed with the tiny tree. Her father checked his big, gold watch and glanced apprehensively down the narrow road leading to dusty Riverside Drive near the railroad tracks.

It grew darker. Sarah lit the lamps, placing one on her desk and the other on a shelf near the door. Even Sarah's overwhelming spirit flagged a bit. Once more, Mr. Clisby stepped out and glanced down the quiet road. He had just turned -- and quietly slipped his arm around his daughter's waist -- when she let out a little squeal of delight.

A lantern had appeared at the end of the road. Fred, Jr., jumped around and around shouting, "They're coming! They're coming!" Sarah discretely wiped away a tear.

Within three minutes, five lanterns could be seen. Voices raised in shouts in the gathering darkness as someone recognized a friend. Huckeby School soon was crowded to overflowing. Some folks had to stand outside, watching through the windows.

Sarah Elizabeth Morton stood very tall, indeed, for a moment. Then, she rang the big, brass bell one time to bid for attention. She quietly opened her Bible and read aloud the story of the birth of Christ so long ago in a faraway place.

Standing beside the Christmas tree, she told the legend of the evergreen tree --- signifying everlasting life. All this time it was so quiet that a pin dropped could have been heard. For some that evening it was the first time they'd ever heard the wonderful story.

She asked Mrs. Coddle to lead them in singing a few of the more well known Christmas carols. Then, Bishop Gray of the Episcopal church dismissed them with prayer.

As the people surged toward her on the last Amen, any misgiving Sarah had harbored in her heart was banished. She cried in sheer relief, holding tightly to the lapels of her father's coat.

Sarah Morton taught school there for just that one year. Later, the school was torn down. Some of it was used in building the living room of the two-story home built by Dela H. Huckeby and is now occupied by Tom Mulford.

With a little imagination, one today can relive part of this history, as this reporter did. I held in my hand, and heard the sound of, the same bell in Sarah Morton's daughter-in-law's home recently that Sarah rang in Huckeby School to tell the Christmas story. Postscript

Huckeby School was built by William L. Huckeby, a sawmill operator who came to Cleveland from Kentucky in 1886. The school was demolished about 1895 and its lumber incorporated in a home built on the site by Del Huckeby, William's son. The structure is still standing on the William Huckeby homestead, but in an advanced state of deterioration.

The hotel mentioned was built in 1885 as the Baxter House by Dr. Alfred T. Holleyman who platted Cleveland earlier that year. The hotel mame was changed to Peace River Lodge in 1925, and it burned in 1965.

Bishop Gray, who gave the parting blessing, was in Punta Gorda at the time organizing a drive to build the first Episcopal church here. William Huckeby was a member of the fledgling congregation and probably was hosting the bishop.

Sarah Morton's daughter-in-law, wife of Fred C. Morton, Jr., was named Georgiana R., a widow at the time she related the story to Old Sundown. No other details of the Mortons are known.

Christmas trees, cards and gifts were widely observed customs in the 1890's, though not so elaborately as today. It is not likely that the decorated tree at Cleveland was the first ever seen here. However, the symbolism of the tree probably was little known, then as now, and therefore a source of great interest at the event described.

Anyway, poets are entitled to a little literary license.

Author: Lindsey Williams