For the third year in a row, the Christmas tree used to celebrate the season in Portland’s Monument Square was harvested in South Portland. This year, the tree is a 55-foot-tall blue spruce, taken from the front yard of a home at 30 McLean St., owned by Ryan and Heather Bridges. The tree, cut down, transported, and erected in its new holiday home on Nov. 21, will be illuminated with 3,000 LED lights donated by Efficiency Maine during the annual lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29.

Portland’s 2013 Christmas tree makes its way across Veterans Memorial Bridge en route from its former home on McLean Street in South Portland to temporary holiday quarters in Monument Square. As the tree awaits transport behind him, owner Ryan Bridges. at right, takes a turn at trying to count the rings on the stump left in his yard. The tree was estimated to be about 60 years old.South Portland Christmas tree ring countMembers of Portland’s Public Works Department and its forestry crew work to set the tree taken from 30 McLean St. in South Portland in Monument Square.A 55-foot-tall blue spruce is taken from its home at McLean Street in South Portland Nov. 21 using a crane donated by Keely Crane Services for transport to display in Portland’s Monument Square throughout the 2013 holiday season.Portland’s 2013 Christmas tree, seen just before being harvested from its home of 60 years, on McLean Street in South Portland.Ryan and Heather Bridges, with their son, 4-month-old Leo, have owned their 1920s-era home at 30 McLean St. in South Portland for about a year. They decided to donate their 55-foot-tall blue spruce tree to Portland Downtown District’s annual holiday festival because it has outgrown the space. A new tree will be planted in its place, they said.

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