From the archives
Each day through Jan. 4, we will publish stories from the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen news archives. This is a condensed version of an article from Dec. 11, 1955.
Live sheep will lend reality to the Nativity scene in the courthouse patio on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Four lambs from the university farm will be staked out on the lawn in front of the scene.
The Rev. Philip J. Poirier of St. Ambrose parish has produced historical grounds for this bit of realism in the Nativity scene, being used for the first time here. It dates back more than seven centuries.
The sheep to be used are spring lambs from the university flock. They are to be trained to wear halters and remain tied, so they can be used in the scene. They will be grazing on the courthouse lawn, where they will be placed Dec. 24. The sheep will be removed early on the 26th.
Mrs. Lotus Key, chairman of the Spirit of Christmas Committee, in charge of the Nativity program, has announced that next year it is planned to use live sheep and also a burro.
The Nativity scene was inaugurated here in 1952 and new features have been added each year.
Today members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the county recreation department will join forces to erect the Nativity scene in the courthouse patio.
Students from Salpointe high school will assist in decorating the trees. The Tucson Womanβs Club will serve lunch for the workers.
The Nativity scene will be unveiled at 8 p.m. Monday and musical programs will be given around it each evening until Christmas. The program Monday night will be given by the Tucson Boys Chorus.
