Illuminated tree is meant to bring joy to the community

Shawn Hardy, Waynesboro Record Herald
·2 min read

A light to the south might have people in the Waynesboro area asking “Do you see what I see?” this holiday season.

Visible for miles around, the illuminated tree is a gift from Greg and Karen Raney to their adopted community.

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The couple moved to 40 acres off Pa. 997 three years ago from Tyler, Texas, to be closer to their family. One son, Jeff and his wife, Christy, and their children June, 5, and Miles, 3, live in Smithsburg, Md., and the other, Sean and his wife, Sarah, live in Lancaster, Pa.

Greg and Karen Raney used a pulley system to raise strands of lights on a Norway spruce at their home on Route 997 near Waynesboro. The couple moved to the area from Texas three years ago and hope the tree that can be seen for miles brings joy to people in their new hometown.
Greg and Karen Raney used a pulley system to raise strands of lights on a Norway spruce at their home on Route 997 near Waynesboro. The couple moved to the area from Texas three years ago and hope the tree that can be seen for miles brings joy to people in their new hometown.

“We have a 50-foot-plus Norway spruce between our house and our barn. When we moved in, my husband, a retired contractor, began envisioning that spruce lit up for Christmas. This year, that dream has become a reality,” Karen said.

When the leaves are off the trees, you can see half the town from the base of the spruce, so Greg figures half the town can see the tree.

“The idea percolated for several years and this year we pulled the trigger,” Greg said.

He designed a system of pulleys installed at the top by Cumberland Valley Tree Service.

“Karen and I hoisted the lights up and we’re pleased with the results,” Greg said.

They used 500 feet of light strands and about 450 bulbs, and Greg built a star for the top of the tree. The strands will come down after Christmas, but the hardware will stay in place.

The illuminated tree at the home of Greg and Karen Ramey off Route 997 is visible in the distance at the center of this photo Karen Ramey took from the hill behind WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital.
The illuminated tree at the home of Greg and Karen Ramey off Route 997 is visible in the distance at the center of this photo Karen Ramey took from the hill behind WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital.

“The most significant thing is the desired effect he thought it would have for Waynesboro,” Karen said. “The lit tree can be seen from all over town — on Welty Road, up and down Buchanan Trail, up the hill behind the hospital and at the Pennsylvania/Maryland line on 997 South. We hope it is bringing Christmas joy to our new hometown, Waynesboro.”

The vantage point offers a commanding view of WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital and Karen especially hopes it brings joy to patients looking back at it from the hospital.

Shawn Hardy is a reporter with Gannett's Franklin County newspapers in south-central Pennsylvania — the Echo Pilot in Greencastle, The Record Herald in Waynesboro and the Public Opinion in Chambersburg. She has more than 35 years of journalism experience. Reach her at shardy@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Tree lit outside Waynesboro as gift to couple's new hometown