Preparations are already underway to prepare the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for the journey to New York City. (Submitted photo)

COLUMBUS – The Hamlet of South Edmeston has been receiving national attention this week after an announcement was made that the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been selected from the area.

This year, the winning tree was found just inside Chenango County and is physically located in the town of Columbus, according to Edmeston Town Supervisor Arthur Klinger.

The town of Edmeston is located in Otsego County, the nearby hamlet of South Edmeston sits on the border and includes areas of other towns from Chenango, Otsego and Madison counties.

Every year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is hand-selected by Rockefeller Center’s head gardener Erik Pauzé. Pauzé and his team scout various Christmas trees across the Northeast.

While some details change from year to year, the tree is typically a Norway spruce, sporting the classic Christmas tree shape.

Property owners who feel they have a tree that meets the qualifications can submit their trees for consideration by visiting the Rockefeller Center website.

“What I look for is a tree you’d want in your living room, but on a grander scale,” Pauzé said in a statement. “It needs to make people smile the second they see it.”

Acting Columbus Supervisor Jane Prohaska said, “I am so excited to see the Town of Columbus be part of this special event. Our small town is incredibly proud to provide the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.”

This year’s Rockefeller Center tree was donated by Rebecca Decker. According to Klinger, the tree in question is actually located in the town of Columbus, near the now-defunct airstrip on the border of Madison County. Property owners are generally not paid for their donations. Instead, many do it because the trees are approaching their maximum height and could pose severe safety risks if they were to be damaged during storms.

The tree in question is approximately 75 years old. Standing at 76 feet tall and 50 feet wide, the tree is estimated to weigh about 11 tons. Considering the tree will need to hold heavy wiring, more than 50,000 LED lights and a 900-pound star, the structural integrity of the tree is a crucial component.

The tree is scheduled to arrive in New York City on Nov. 7, but the preparation for the trip begins much sooner.

The tree must be carefully wrapped before it can be cut down. Wrapping the tree serves multiple purposes, protecting the limbs and also compressing the tree to allow it to travel safely over highways and roads. The wrapping process has already begun in the town of Columbus. Once wrapping is complete, cranes are used to hold the tree upright while workers use chainsaws to cut the tree. The tree is then placed on a custom flatbed trailer to be transported to New York City.

While the tree will arrive in New York City on Nov. 7, it will not officially be lit until Dec. 2. According to the Rockefeller Center website, “the tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to 1931, when construction workers building Rockefeller Center erected a small tree decorated with handmade garlands.”

After the holidays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is usually milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity for the construction of homes.