Decorating for Christmas at the office of EEFS Company, PC, in downtown Bessemer commences immediately following Thanksgiving. The employees love a little Christmas.
For several years now, their Christmas tree has been most unique—something you will have never seen.
As you enter the reception area of EEFS, located at 1930 2nd Avenue, North, you will see a wooden surveyor’s tripod decorated as a Christmas tree. Brenda Rickard, an employee of the business, is responsible for decorating this unique tree.
The historic piece of equipment was built for commercial/residential layout and property survey and is nearly 150 years old. The transit measures angles to a high degree. City Engineer and EEFS owner Ron Gilbert stated, “I am proud to be the owner of this historic piece, and it is exciting to incorporate the instrument into our Christmas design.”
The instrument was used to survey the construction of the Panama Canal, which was completed in 1914.
Gilbert acquired the historic tripod and transit in 1973 while attending Hueytown High School. He purchased the instrument from a retired Hueytown engineer.
