Mr. Colorado Spruce, who had held up the corner of Fifth Avenue N.W. and Second Street N.W. since around 1928, died at his home.

At 80 years old, Spruce sported a trunk nearly 7 feet around and towered well above his peers in the entire downtown area. C.F. and Mary Kelsch, who built the home he protected, brought him to life shortly after completing landscaping.

Spruce was the victim of a lightening storm that crashed through the area Thursday evening around 8 p.m. A simultaneous crack of thunder and shot of lightening brought down the magnificent specimen of a tree.

Fortunately for the homeowner, neighbors reported the lightning danced between the high wires in the alley between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue N.W. before bouncing off the former Matt’s Appliance workshop and traveling east, hitting Spruce’s uppermost spire.

Roxanne Jacobson, owner, said because of the direction of the strike, the portion of Spruce above the roofline of the brick home, that happens to be the same age as its former guardian, broke in a corkscrew fashion and avoided hitting its ward. He came to rest along side the south yard of the house.

Besides blowing his top, Spruce’s trunk was split in half all the way to the ground, making it imperative he be cut down that evening.

Jacobson said the entire structure shook and the electrical breakers blew. Mandan Fire Department was dispatched because smoke was detected in the house. After careful inspection, the department deemed nothing was on fire and power was restored.

Next door neighbor Donna Froelich was just turning into her driveway when she heard the crack of thunder. Hearing something hit the van; she assumed it was hailing and pulled under the neighbor’s tree as quickly as possible, only discovering later it was pieces of Spruces’ uppermost branches hitting the top of her vehicle.

More neighbors became curious and began venturing out of their homes by ones and twos, like ants discovering a large crumb, to gather on the corner to offer condolences and support.

Mandan attorney Bruce Bair recalls that Spruce was a mere sapling about the time that he was born and had always admired the grand tree when passing by.

Deeply rooted in the community, Spruce stood watch over the neighborhood for many years providing shelter to birds and squirrels alike. He provided pinecones for many school children’s projects. Sometimes, you could see crystal tears in the uppermost branches of Mr. Spruce, shed for things we will never know.

After the accident, one last gift was discovered from Mr. Spruce; the entire neighborhood smelled like a Montana pine forest on a warm winter day.

Cremation, or maybe chipping, has taken place.

Condolences may be left online at www.mandan-news.com or e-mailed to sue@mandan-news.com.

See more photos in the album.