How many people, machines does it take to put up a holiday tree at Somerset Courthouse?
SOMERSET — The smell of an evergreen conifer waffles up the courthouse outdoor stairs. The Somerset County's holiday tree is here.
A small crowd gathered on the steps to watch the arrival and placement of the large holiday tree. A few took photos. Some gave advice to the borough's crew at the base of the tree.
Quite a few individuals scurried about, hoisting the tree and lining it up with a stand that will hold it upright during the holiday season.
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In the near future, even more individuals and equipment will be seen at the tree's site. Volunteer businesses and the Somerset Borough maintenance crew, along with a Penelec employee will string the lights wrapping the tree in colors of the holiday season. LED, of course. The lit tree will be visible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike stretch that passes by the borough from where it stands as the county's holiday centerpiece in front of the Somerset County Courthouse.
On cold days when one can see their own breath and snow swirls on the sidewalks and covers windshields pushed around by wipers, the lit tree is a welcome sight driving into Somerset, making one think of home's warmth, couch, blanket, hot chocolate, winding down from the day. Maybe even a good book or newspaper.
"As long as I can remember it has been a tradition of the borough putting up the tree," said Roger Bailey, administrative assistant to the borough manager. " I have been with the borough since 1995 and have been involved with putting it up since then," he said. In fact, Bailey was part of the crew that saved the holiday centerpiece in 2015 when it appeared to be falling.
The borough's holiday centerpiece just brings "a good feeling," according to several residents asked about the importance of the holiday tree.,
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How many people and pieces of equipment does it take to put up the holiday tree? A lot. Take this year for example.
"Somerset County needs a Christmas tree," said George Critchfield with a smile and a glint in his eyes as he stood with his young son talking to the sheriff deputies at the entrance of the courthouse Wednesday as the sound of a buzz saw could be heard when the tree's trunk was being shaved to fit in the stand. His family business, Critchfield Lumber, voluntarily sent a flatbed truck to Randy and Linda Musser's home near Shanksville in the early morning hours to secure the 25-foot fir tree and hauled it to the Somerset County Courthouse Wednesday.
Critchfield is a strong believer in Christmas. When he attends Somerset County Commissioners meetings, which is often, and it is time for public comment he always begins his time with a short prayer for peace and understanding.
Linda Musser is a member of the Somerset Garden Club of Pennsylvania. Somerset Garden Club donated time and greenery to help get Uptown ready for the holiday season.
The crane and operator to help put the tree into place was donated by Morocco Welding of Somerset Township. Not for the first time. The borough’s crews helped with the setup and the logistics of getting the tree to the courthouse and set in place.
Everyone worked together and the tree went up without a hitch.
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“I, myself as a resident and someone that grew up in Somerset Borough, love this tradition having a Christmas tree Uptown for the holidays," said Jessica J Sizemore, Somerset municipal authority manager.
"What is even better is that my boys get to enjoy the tradition that I grew up with, which now includes a Light Up Night and events throughout the day for us all to enjoy," she said.
Light up night is scheduled for Nov. 25. A schedule of the events can be found at http://somersetinc.org/lightupsomerset/.
This year's tree will shimmer with multi-colored lights stringed through and around its branches placed there by volunteers and borough employees. Jason Halverson, of Penelec, will be bringing in a man lift to assist with stringing the lights.
Those lights will glow throughout the holiday season beginning Nov. 25. The lights come on when traditionally lit by Santa that evening. Santa normally pauses in his transport in the parade at the courthouse's street intersection of W. Union Street and Center Avenue, faces the tree and extends his arm. The string of lights begins to glow and the borough's light-up night parade continues.
What's next?
The tree serves as the borough's holiday centerpiece and since it is at the courthouse the tree also serves as the county's holiday centerpiece.
The colorful sight will stay until after the mid-January Fire & Ice Festival by Somerset Inc.
The tree trimming could not be accomplished without the help of the public, uptown merchants and fire department and utility companies that use bucket trucks to reach the top of the tree.
"A Shout out to Somerset Inc. and all of the supporting businesses for organizing such a wonderful event,” Sizemore said.
As for next year, a plan is in place.
"Maybe a 50-foot tree," Critchfield said.
The borough is asking anyone who has a minimum of a 25-foot evergreen conifer on their property to contact the borough at 814-443-2661 for a possible next year holiday centerpiece.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: It's time: Another shimmer of lights will hang from a large fir
