Christmas tree makes arrival Downtown

Christmas+tree+makes+arrival+Downtown

Photo by Chloe Jakiela

Written By Josh Croup, Editor-in-chief

Nancy Ruttner and Andy Sujdak of Pittsburgh’s Oakwood neighborhood received a one-foot tall blue spruce tree 33 years ago as a wedding gift.

Saturday, the couple watched their tree become part of Pittsburgh.

They parted ways with their now 53-foot tall tree Saturday when they donated it to the City of Pittsburgh to place atop the steps of the City County Building.

“It’s grown just like their children, like their marriage,” said James Hill, the Special Assistant to Mayor Bill Peduto. “It’s always been a thing in their life. It’s a very emotional story this year for it too.”

The tree will be decorated with special bicentennial ornaments with the name of each Pittsburgh neighborhood.

The annual tree-lighting ceremony will be part of Pittsburgh’s annual Light Up Night celebration on Nov. 18.