El Paso's Star on the Mountain originated as Christmas ornament

This column first appeared in the El Paso Times on Dec. 14, 2013.

Many El Pasoans remember the Star on the Mountain being lighted only during the holiday season as opposed to all year, as it is now.

The star was first lighted Nov. 29, 1940. Here's the story:

"Mountain Christmas Star Spreads Spirit of Peace"

"Dedicated to peace and good will, a gigantic Christmas star will glow from Mt. Franklin nightly until the New Year, a beacon visible for miles to motorists and airplane passengers approaching El Paso.

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Lit at 6:10 p.m.

"The star, more than 400 feet long and 300 feet wide, is illuminated with more than 300 blue-white daylight lamps which give a twinkling effect. It was turned on last night at 6:10.

"The El Paso Electric Co., which constructed the star, 'hopes that it will contribute something toward the festive appearance of our city during the holiday season,' said President Roy S. Nelson in a brief ceremony at the star, just above Scenic Point.

"'We hope that all of our people on this side of the border, as well as our neighbors in Juarez, will be reminded of the fact that America is at peace this Christmas time, and that we should all feel an obligation to do our part toward preserving and protecting the peace and liberty we enjoy,' Mr. Nelson said."

Star grows to 350 bulbs

In 1941, the star was enlarged to 350 bulbs, from 300: "It has been re-designed so that dim spots which could be detected last year have been filled in with large globes."

I didn't find anything on the star from 1942 to 1945. The next article I found was in early December, 1946: "Star Being Built": "The El Paso Electric Co. has started construction of its Christmas star on Mt. Franklin for lighting through the holidays."

Then Dec. 15, 1946, "Christmas Star Again Shines Over El Paso."

"The Christmas star on Mt. Franklin is shining over El Paso again. It is visible from the air at a distance of 100 miles.

"El Paso Electric Co. used 268 'daylight blue' lamps to outline the star on the mountainside. It is 459 feet high and 278 feet wide."

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Lit for hostages, soldiers

For 50 years, the star was only lighted during the Christmas season — with two exceptions that I could find.

In 1979, the star was illuminated every night for 444 nights in support of the U.S. hostages being held in Iran. When the hostages were released Jan. 21, 1981, the star went dark.

It also shone every night from the 1990 Christmas season to Aug. 21, 1991, when the last Fort Bliss soldier returned from the first Persian Gulf war.

Lit all year round

In 1993, through a joint project of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and El Paso Electric Co., the star became a nightly feature in El Paso's skyline. The project now lets El Pasoans sponsor the star to be lighted in a loved one's honor or for special occasions.

About $32,000 was spent to renovated the star in 2007. The upgrade consisted of:

•Installing new wiring and light fixtures that can protect the bulbs from the weather.

•Installation of screw-in, fluorescent white lights that will replace the less-reliable, yellowish incandescent bulbs.

•Installation of a radio-frequency remote system to allow the Star on the Mountain to be turned on or off by computer or cell phone, rather than requiring a crew to physically go up the Franklins.

City takes over Star

In 2009, the city government took over ownership of the star when council members voted, 7-1, to accept a donation of its lights, equipment and logo from the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

In 2010, the City Council again voted 7-1 to approve a 50-year lease with 88 Investments Inc., an El Paso company that owns the land the star sits on. Instead of paying rent, the city will pay the taxes on the land. That comes out to about $1,200 a year.

In November 2010, the star turned orange for a week to "launch the Tim Floyd era in UTEP basketball." And in April 2012, the star was turned blue in recognition of Autism Awareness Month.

Trish Long is the El Paso Times' archivist and spends her time in the morgue, where the newspaper keeps its old clippings and photos. Email her at tlong@elpasotimes.com.

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