On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Elma
Between 1959 and 1969, the Aluminum Specialty Company (later the Mirro Company) produced aluminum Christmas trees in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. More than one million aluminum trees were produced, including the company’s flagship product the Evergleam. At the time, the shiny trees were decried by some as proof that the holiday was being ruined by crass commercialism. Now, they are regarded as icons of mid-century modern and very collectable. Every year, local collectors display their treasures in the downtown shop windows and public buildings.
The RiverBank building, once a bank, then a bar, and now a great place to display shiny trees
The Capitol Civic Centre is a 1920s movie palace converted into a performing arts venue.
Notice how the shiny trees set off the tasteful display of cheese heads.
Not an aluminum tree, but a long standing tradition. The local marine contractor puts a lighted tree on the top of the boom on the crane on their barge.
p.a.
We had a silver one ‘back in the day’, not our main tree but set up somewhere in the house or porch. Spinning color wheel to shine on it to give the changing color effect; remember them?
MagdaInBlack
@p.a.: There was one family in our teeny town of 700, that had one. I thought it was the coolest thing.
raven
We’d go through there on our way to Door County!
raven
Door County.
Gin & Tonic
“Tasteful display of cheese heads” is a phrase one seldom encounters.
raven
@Gin & Tonic: They had a sign in a bowling alley bar in Egg Harbor that said “Free Beer when the Bears win the Super Bowl”! Only once in all these years!
WaterGirl
Tomorrow is our last day of Holidays When We Were Little. Any photos that come in today will be added to tomorrow’s post.
Mary G
My mom got one and decorated it in our all-white living room with only blue glass ornaments in the early 60s. I pitched a fit and got a regular ex-living green tree with our usual ornaments in the family room.
These are great photos, thanks Elma.
dr. luba
I have one, a 4 foot tree. Bought it in the 80s at a garage sale in the Keweenaw for 75 cents and stuck it in the attic. Pulled it out a couple of years ago when I couldn’t physically do my usual tree. All 58 branches were present and in the original sleeves. I had to buy one of those rotating color wheel lights (they can still be found online, reproductions).
I’ve put it up gain this year, with shiny bright ornaments.
My hipster nephew has called dibs on it…..have informed him that I’m not planning to die any time soon.
Salt Creek
This brings back memories of Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special, he was supposed to get a Christmas tree, everyone hoped he would get a shiny aluminum one. When he showed up with the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree everyone was devastated. Christmas was ruined.
That is until Linus showed up and recited a few lines of scripture, then everything was ok and the jazz music started.
sstarr
I thought that the first picture was showing a building burning down.
Mike in Oly
I love my aluminum tree, but haven’t put it up in several years. This was a fun display to see. Thanks for sharing them.
Jerry Brown
My brothers and I had a 12 foot Mirrocraft aluminum boat for bass fishing. A sturdy, well crafted little boat, it could handle choppy water with ease. It was purchased in 1970. With three fishermen, a trolling motor and all our gear aboard, it was a bit cramped. The boat went like a bat out of hell powered by our 20 h.p. Johnson motor, though. It was replaced by a larger bass boat a couple of years later.
cyndyj
Longtime lurker here – surprised and delighted to see my downtown featured on OTR! The Evergleams are a beautiful sight on 8th street. Thanks Elma!
Tehanu
@p.a.: yes, we had the tree and the wheel too. Gave it up after 2 or 3 years because we missed the piney smell
dr. luba
Video here, should anyone want to see my tree:
facebook.com/luba.petrusha/posts/10160063616217847?comment_id=10160073793427847¬if_id=164090…