Manitowoc-During this holiday season, nearly 40 store windows in downtown Manitowoc will be "aluminized" and Evergleams on Eighth will shine in the city center.

From Thanksgiving to the New Year, more than 40 old-fashioned aluminum Christmas trees of different sizes, styles and colors will return to their hometowns. They were made in the city when the Christmas tree first appeared in 1959.

Several local collectors will share their Evergleam tree, which is the brand name used by Aluminium Specialty Company. Their collection has more than 400 trees, including some very rare and rare varieties. Numerous color wheels and rotating tree stands, also made by Aluminium Specialty, will illuminate the trees, just as they were designed in the early 1960s.

“It’s really exciting to work with collectors and businesses so that everyone can enjoy this,” said Cathy Karl, one of the event coordinators and the owner of Heart & Homestead downtown. "This year's new features will really make all visitors to the area feel that they are part of the fun."

The other event coordinators felt the same way.

"We want everyone to enjoy this as we do," Barb Bundy-Jost and Jordan Kabat said together. "We want to cultivate people's appreciation of these trees as works of art in the places where Manitowoc made these trees."

All three of them are collectors of the Evergleam brand, and many of their trees will be exhibited in the city center this year.

Related: Manitowoc Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Tree: "The whole process is surprising"

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In addition to the many aluminum trees displayed in enterprises, some of the most popular aluminum trees have returned this year. 

The Manitowoc Public Library will become "Evergleam Central", and the main floor will display Frankie's rare aluminum tree forest, provided by Francine Pfeffer.

The library also has a "photographing area" that allows visitors to return to the family living room in the 1960s style in time.

Other exhibitions will include holiday items from Mirro and National Tinsel, two other important Manitowoc manufacturers.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum’s exhibit will feature favorite trees from the collection of Steve Siehr, another Manitowoc native who no longer lives in the area.

On Saturdays December 4th, 11th and 18th at 5, 6 or 7 pm, the popular guided tree trolley will allow passengers to board the heated trolley. The library will extend the time to allow trolley ticket holders to watch the exhibition half an hour before each tour. See evergleams.org for more information or purchase tickets to reserve seats. You can also call 920-769-6162 to purchase tickets.

Aluminium Specialty produced millions of space-age trees, which were first introduced on Christmas Day 1959. The gleaming trees were an immediate success. As more than 40 other competitors, including Mirro of Manitowoc, joined the manufacturing ranks, their popularity increased rapidly within a few years.

In the late 1960s, when the family joined Charlie Brown's mood, sales began to decline, and Charlie Brown yearned for a less commercial holiday in a 1965 TV special.

The final production of the Everlgeam tree was in 1971, when the company refocused on children's cookware sets.

About 75%-80% of Evergleams are made of silver. Innovations in branch styles and colors were quickly introduced into the expanding market, and there was a continuing interest in the product.

These trees are sold at moderate prices, most of which retail for less than $25. A quick glance on eBay will reveal that today's prices can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on conditions and rarity.

These impressions can be viewed before January 9, 2022. Maps showing the locations of many trees will be available wherever you see trees or on evergleams.org. The library is located at 707 Dock Street and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum is located at 75 Maritime Avenue.