COLUMBUS, Ind. — It may not be Thanksgiving yet, but “it is now the holiday season in Columbus,” Mayor Mary Ferdon said.
The mayor made her personal assessment Monday as she watched crews place the community Christmas tree in front of Columbus City Hall.
Decorating the tree takes about a week, which is why the spruce was put in place 12 days before Thanksgiving, Ferdon said.
“When the tree is lit, it just emphasizes the holiday season,” Ferdon said. “There’s a religious aspect, there’s a community aspect. We have so many people who come here to take pictures with their kids and make memories.”
This year, crews cut down a Norway Spruce donated by Dave and Eileen Von Fange, who reside west of Walesboro along County Road 400S. The couple believe the tree was planted in 1996.
Before a few feet at the bottom were cleared off to fit securely into the stand, the tree stood 36-feet-tall – substantially larger that the 25-feet-tall Colorado Blue Spruce donated last year by Dave and Theresa Baldwin of Columbus.
“It’s a little bit taller than we need, but when we get it up there, it’s going to take shape and look pretty good,” said Bryan Burton, public works director for the city.
For the complete story and more photos, see Wednesday’s Republic.
