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Show Cleveland Sells Stocks To Buy Community Tree Sale of stock certificates unparalleled unparal-leled in history brought America's first community Christmas tree to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1912. To raise money for a community tree, preferred stock was sold in "Cleveland, the City of Good Will (Unlimited), Incorporated." It was listed at the head of other securities on the Cleveland Stock exchange. Although no personal solicitations were allowed, more than $12,000 was realized from the sale. A community communi-ty celebration was held around the 70-foot, illuminated tree that was erected in the public square. The next Christmas brought a veritable ver-itable avalanche of community Christmas trees throughout the country. The idea has become almost al-most a national custom, with more than 15,000 American cities and towns setting up their own community commu-nity trees during the Christmas season. |