Origins of Christmas tree in America uncertain

Who had the first Christmas tree in America? There seems no general agreement, but here are some of the claims: The first tree was used in Lancaster, Pa., in 1821; in York, Pa., in 1823; or in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1823. In any case, Christmas trees were being mentioned in many Pennsylvania newspapers by the 1830s.

The first tree was used in Farmington, Iowa, in 1845 by George Schramm, who later became a state senator. He claimed that his father had a tree in Circleville, Ohio, in 1838. Wooster, Ohio, had a tree in 1847, or at least the city has a plaque that says so. The first tree in Illinois was described in a book that said it was in the 1833 home of a German who later became lieutenant governor.

Another claim is that the first tree was used at the Zion Lutheran Church in Cleveland in 1851. The church's live fir tree was decorated with cookies and lighted candles. Church members laughed at the tree, thinking it was a devilish "old-world custom" that the new pastor had brought from Germany.

We are told the earliest drawing of an American Christmas tree is in a book published in York, Pa., in 1821 or in a Boston book from 1836, or in a Philadelphia book from 1845.

How do we know about all these claims? Because every time we write about the first American tree, we hear of another one. Do you know of one we have missed?

Q: Is a back stamp that is off-center an indication that the dish is a second? I have been buying and selling china for years and never heard of this before.

A: No, it is not an indication that a dish is a second. Sometimes the marks are just off-center.

Tip: If you are a collector of old Christmas-tree ornaments or Christmas lights, you can use them on your tree.

Ralph and Terry Kovel's column is syndicated by King Features. Write to: Kovels, (Las Vegas Review-Journal), King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019.