Cincinnati's Christmas tree came from Wooster. Here's how it happened

Bryce Buyakie, The Daily Record
·4 min read
The city of Cincinnati’s Christmas Tree stands at Fifth and Vine streets, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati. The tree comes from the Frontz family in Wayne County.
The city of Cincinnati’s Christmas Tree stands at Fifth and Vine streets, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati. The tree comes from the Frontz family in Wayne County.

WOOSTER − It's big. It's strong. And it smells good.

This Christmas gift is fit for a queen — or The Queen City. Merry Christmas, Cincinnati! Wayne County offers you a 45-foot tree.

The massive concolor fir — known for its strong branches and citrus-like aroma — was carefully strapped to the bed of a semi and arrived at Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati over the weekend, drawing crowds from around the area.

Wooster's tree goes upDowntown Wooster Christmas tree to light up Friday at Window Wonderland

The delivery was the culmination of months of planning and debate to find the perfect tree, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer article. The goal was to avoid a repeat of the 2020 tree that was dubbed a Charlie Brown tree.

Chris Frontz (left) and Amye Frontz stand in front of the tree before it is chopped down.
Chris Frontz (left) and Amye Frontz stand in front of the tree before it is chopped down.

But the gift from Wayne County has a meaning deeper than avoiding a meme.

The tree has a history that stretches back nearly four decades to when Steve Frontz and his siblings were in their teens or younger.

For the love of trees and strangers

The Cincinnati Christmas tree grew on the Frontz property that runs along Millersburg Road in Wooster. At the front is a house owned by the Frontz family. Behind it sits a residential water well drilling company called Frontz Drilling.

The company was owned by Richard Frontz, a tree expert and hobbyist who died seven years ago. The family business is now co-owned by his three sons: Steve, Rod and Doug Frontz.

Richard and Pat Frontz. Richard Frontz owned Frontz Drilling and was an avid tree hobbyist.
Richard and Pat Frontz. Richard Frontz owned Frontz Drilling and was an avid tree hobbyist.

'2020 has been a rough year': Christmas tree at Cincinnati's Fountain Square comes with jokes

Scattered throughout the 20-acre property are dozens of trees ranging from pines to nut trees and oaks, Steve Frontz said.

"He would order saplings and plant them," he said of his father. "He cut trees down for people and would give them away."

Veronica Frontz holds an old photo showing the Christmas tree recently delivered to Cincinnatti. It is the small tree in the center of the photo. It was estimated to be approximately 40 years old when it was harvested. The tree was owned by Frontz Drilling.
Veronica Frontz holds an old photo showing the Christmas tree recently delivered to Cincinnatti. It is the small tree in the center of the photo. It was estimated to be approximately 40 years old when it was harvested. The tree was owned by Frontz Drilling.

Frontz's sister, Barb Geiser recalled a time when her father donated a Christmas tree to a family he met at a store.

"He heard a mom and her kids talking about how they could only afford so many lights and ornaments if they got a tree, so he gave them his card and chopped a tree down for them," Geiser said.

As to the history of the now-removed tree, Rod Frontz has a hunch.

Figured to be around 40 years old, give or take a few years, Frontz remembers planting the tree in the late 1970s or early '80s.

From digging a hole to placing cardboard on the ground and planting the tree, Frontz said, the memory sticks out.

"It wasn't a sapling when we put it in, that's why I remember it," he said.

Finding the perfect Christmas tree

Members of the Frontz family stand where the tree grew. (Left to right) Kailyn Frontz, Brian Frontz, Ethan Frontz, Veronica Frontz, Kevin Frontz, Rod Frontz, Steve Frontz, Chris Frontz, Barb Geiser and Ericka Burgin.
Members of the Frontz family stand where the tree grew. (Left to right) Kailyn Frontz, Brian Frontz, Ethan Frontz, Veronica Frontz, Kevin Frontz, Rod Frontz, Steve Frontz, Chris Frontz, Barb Geiser and Ericka Burgin.

Dan Zuk of Zuk Tree Moving in Medina County was driving through Wooster when he spotted two giant concolor fir trees planted nearly four decades ago.

It was a chance meeting as Steve Frontz remembers the day in mid-October.

Christmas comes to Woo:Downtown Wooster Christmas tree to light up Friday at Window Wonderland

"Dan stopped by and said he has a contract to find a Christmas tree for Cincinnati," said Frontz, owner of the residential water well drilling company. "Three trees were in the running for Cincinnati, including two of ours."

Zuk told Frontz the top of one 45-foot-tall tree was "splitting," a sign its age was catching up with it.

After talking it through, Frontz and his family sold it to Zuk for $3,000.

Zuk Tree Moving crews prepare to lift a 45-foot tree out of the ground in Wooster to be delivered to Cincinnati.
Zuk Tree Moving crews prepare to lift a 45-foot tree out of the ground in Wooster to be delivered to Cincinnati.

Felled on Nov. 4 and bound by rope the following week, it was placed in Cincinnati's Fountain Square on Nov. 12, Frontz said.

With the move completed and a patch of dirt where the tree once stood, Frontz and his wife will attend the tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 25 in Cincinnati.

The whole family, including Frontz, agrees Richard Frontz would be proud that his tree now stands in Cincinnati.

"He loved trees, but he loved helping people more. He would just help anyone without them asking," said Ethan Frontz, grandson of Richard Frontz.

He remembers being taken on tree tours as a kid by his grandfather.

"He knew a lot about trees, and he could tell you when he planted it and where it came from," Frontz said. "So, he would be proud of this."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: How a Wooster family provided Cincinnati's 2022 Christmas tree