My Sweet Charity

Dallas County’s Oldest Tree Lighting Tradition Continues, Thanks To A Guy Named Joe

Nov 30, 2020 5:30 PM By Jeanne Prejean Leave a Comment

From holidays to class reunions, every tradition needs a start, and this year is perfect to create one for your family. But first, the backstory.

When Dallas County’s first physician Dr. John Cole’s son Joe Cole returned to the Dallas area from the Civil War, he “unknowingly plowed over a small pecan tree” with his mule team on his father’s acreage. So the story goes that the lad, having “witnessed so much destruction and killing, staked the tree up to protect it, and hand-watered the pecan tree as a testament to life.”

As the years passed by, the property exchanged hands and legend has it that Joe had a caveat placed in purchases: the pecan tree had to be protected. While KERA’s Robert Tranchin’s research reported that no official claim along those lines could be found, the small tree standing alone on the field grew just as its surrounding community did.

Still another story reported that when developer Hugh Prather Sr. started creating the town of Highland Park in the early 1900s, he “was offered a million dollars for a lot that would include the pecan tree” — Joe’s tree. While Prather shunned the offer, the tree earned the nickname, the Million Dollar Monarch.

Prather and his landscape architect/urban planner Wilbur David Cook had other plans for the pecan tree. Cook had created a master plan for the town that had a grand parkway — today’s Armstrong Parkway — with the tree at the entrance in the center park. Like Rolls Royce’s Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, the tree served as a hallmark for the town as prestigious mansions were built across the way.

In 1927 the tree that was now more than 60 years old was adorned with lights, becoming the “oldest community Christmas tree lighting tradition in Dallas County.” Only during World War II and the 1973 energy crisis did the lights not shine.

Over the years the tree took on a certain grandeur and became officially known as the “Monarch Pecan Tree.” But for generations of locals it was just “The Big Pecan Tree.” And, like any grand lady, she received the ultimate in attention. Still, recognizing that all things, no matter how fastidiously cared for, have an end, steps were taken for the future. A sapling grown from the Monarch was planted less than 100 feet away in the park on January 20, 1951.

Long after her protector Joe’s demise, Mama Monarch continued witnessing more than 54,750 sunrises and sunsets, being a playground for squirrels and the perfect spot for birds to nest. She weathered freezing temperatures and sweltering summers, welcomed returning heroes from wars and watched wide-eyed youngsters grow into grandparents. She stood stout as automobiles provided transportation instead of horse-drawn buggies, cellphones replaced Alexander Graham‘s telephones and, yes, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic ravaged the world.

As the decades rolled by, Monarch, now more than 150 years old, was starting to show her age due to time and disease. In late 2019 the reality of her being too frail to stand forced the town to take her down.

Standing literally in the wings was that former sapling, now known as the Landmark Pecan Tree. For 70 years, like a dutiful daughter, she had grown and waited her turn to carry on the tradition created by her mother.

On Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. Landmark will be officially lit by Highland Park Mayor Margo Goodwin and a “surprise guest.” While the event is not … repeat “not”… open to the public due to the prevailing COVID-19 concerns, the lighting will take place virtually.

And speaking of tradition, why not start your own? Why not take a family photo with Landmark this year and in each of the years to come? Imagine how both Landmark and your family will grow, expand and change with the times and trends.

According to Highland Park Public Safety Lt. Lance Koppa, Landmark will light up nightly until Sunday, January 3, and is absolutely free for one and all to start their own tradition — all thanks to a fellow named Joe, who cherished the testament to life.

* Compliments of: Beth and Chuck Thoele
** Restrictions: Dates must be mutually agreed upon with 
owner. Maximum of 12 people. Expires December 5, 2021.
*** Photo provided by Crystal Charity Ball

* Photo provided by Texas Vignette

* Compliments of: Diamond Direct
** Restrictions: No returns or exchanges.
*** Photo provided by Crystal Charity Ball

* Graphic/photo provided by The Winston School