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The Fraser fir lighting will take place Saturday, Nov. 23, at 5:15 p.m. in the Covered Bridge Park. The tree lighting serves as the kick-off event for Elizabethton’s holiday season. There will be festive music, delicious food, and a special visit from Santa.

Due to increased traffic in the downtown caused by the closing of the Broad Street Bridge, the location of the tree lighting was changed from the Fraser fir’s location at the Folsom House on E. Elk Avenue to the nearby Covered Bridge Park.

This year’s event will include the lighting of both the historic tree and ten additional trees scattered throughout the park. These trees have been graciously donated by Hawk Mountain Tree Farm and Garden Center in Boone, N.C., and will be planted in Elizabethton parks as they undergo repairs.

The Fraser fir was first decorated and lit on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1988. Since then it has become a Christmas tradition in the city.

The first lights were paid for by donations from the community, and the lights were placed on the tree by J.I. Cornett and his construction company. Approximately $2,700 was raised for the lights, which were purchased from Charles H. Rhotenberry of Bristol, who does the Christmas lights downtown. West Side school children purchased the star for the tree and East Side school children purchased a sign to go under the tree.

Among the donations received was one from Doris Folsom of Oklahoma City, Okla., the great-granddaughter of Major Henderson Folsom, who lived in the white two-story house on E. Elk Ave., which is home to the Fraser fir. She wrote in a note with her donation, “My father Murray H. Folsom told me my great-grandfather planted two of the trees,” one on each side of the brick walkway. Unfortunately, one of the trees died.

Long before the stately old house became the offices of the Carter County U-T Extension Office, it was the home of Major Henderson Folsom, who built the two-story white clapboard house.

Major Folsom was the only commissioned officer from Carter County in the Confederate Army. He was with the Confederate States of America, serving in Company G of the 31st Tennessee Regiment commanded by General Vaughn. He was captured at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Major Folsom was a well-known lawyer and teacher of law.

Major Folsom, who was well-respected in Elizabethton, was the first Sunday School superintendent of the Southern Methodist Church and helped to erect the church building on Second St. (now the St. Thomas Episcopal Church).

The tree lighting is sponsored by the Carter County Bank.