MANSFIELD, Ohio – Thanks to the generosity of one Mansfield local, the city again has a live Christmas tree for the holidays.
Linda Teagardner donated the large evergreen tree from her 420 Agate Ave. property, giving downtown its holiday centerpiece.
She said the city approached her about donating the tree.
“I just thought it was for a good cause,” said Teagardner, who has lived at her Agate Ave. home for 15 years. “It’s kind of like giving a Christmas tree to the whole community.”
The City of Mansfield Street Department cut down and transported the top portion of the evergreen to the Richland Carrousel Park on Monday, where it will be displayed during the holiday season.
Shelly Smith & Sons brought a crane to lift the large tree onto a street department trailer. The local towing company has donated its time and resources for several years to help transport and place the city’s tree.
Street department foreman Cliff Benson made the initial cuts to bring the top half of the tree down at 10:41 a.m.
It was secured to a trailer shortly after 11 a.m. and taken to the Richland Carrousel Park with police escort, arriving just before noon.
At the Carrousel, Ray Smith, of Shelly Smith & Sons, used a crane to lift the tree back off the trailer, while street department crew members used rope to guide the trunk of the tree into a 3½ to 4 foot hole.
Crew members then used wooden wedges to secure the tree in place.
This year’s tree is 36 feet tall, trumping last year’s 30-footer.
Willie Hunn, director of the Richland Carrousel, said it “means everything” to have the tree at the Carrousel.
“Christmas Time in the City is when they’ll light the tree up,” she said. “That’s when we’ll have reindeer on the lawn here.”
The Christmas Time in the City and Shop Hop event is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4.
The tree will be lit at 6 p.m.
When asked what she thought of the tree, Bishop said she thought it was beautiful.
According to street department crew members, the tree will be decorated in time for Mansfield’s Holiday Parade on Saturday.
The city will be decorating the tree.
Though the tree measures 36 feet, what stands in front of the Carrousel is approximately only half the size of the original tree. The remaining tree will be removed by the city, which also will grind the stump and repair any damage to the lawn.
