With the arrival of first true sign of winter so came the first sign of the holidays. Franklin's tree is here, along with a little snow. It's not the tallest tree they've ever had, but as one passer by noted - "It's just perfect."
Last year, Franklin had a record tall tree for Light-Up Night. It towered. It was over 50 feet high and it really created quite the Hallmark scene as one rounded to corner off 13th Street heading down through town on Liberty Street. But soggy ground and high winds didn't allow it to stay standing long. A few tears where shed by those closest to the tree-getting experience. But they wiped them off, grabbed each others arms and headed right back to work. They wore their hearts that don't like to disappoint on their sleeves, found a quick replacement and within a day were back in business with a much smaller tree. One that could finish off the holiday season with style.
Last year, Franklin had a record tall tree for Light-Up Night. It towered. It was over 50 feet high and it really created quite the Hallmark scene as one rounded to corner off 13th Street heading down through town on Liberty Street. But soggy ground and high winds didn't allow it to stay standing long. A few tears where shed by those closest to the tree-getting experience. But they wiped them off, grabbed each others arms and headed right back to work. They wore their hearts that don't like to disappoint on their sleeves, found a quick replacement and within a day were back in business with a much smaller tree. One that could finish off the holiday season with style.
This year's tree won't break and records but it is up and secured with new anchors put deep into the ground. Come Saturday, it will be ready for the "oohs" and "ahhhs" that come during the city's annual tree lighting tradition.
Volunteers gathered around the 35ish-foot tree to begin getting it decorated for Saturday's debut. "I just want to know where it is written that Christmas lights must get tangled up," volunteer Cheryl Brickner joked as she and others struggled unraveling the hundreds of feet of light strings that will cover this festive cone.
Decorating chairperson Pat Dolecki said the tree will be adorned with 1,440 colorful lights and 550 twinkle lights.
Decorating chairperson Pat Dolecki said the tree will be adorned with 1,440 colorful lights and 550 twinkle lights.
The tree will also feature a new crown this year with a large aluminum star burst wrapped in white lights. It's larger than the one used in previous years.
This tree was donated by Greg Gonzales of Oil City. He donated it in memory of his late wife, Kathy. “She was really special, always caring for people.... She’d want me to do this,” Gonzales said through a press release from the city of Franklin.
As usual, Ed Turner of Paul Bunyan's Tree Service's had his crew cut down the tree. Turner said the tree was right up against a building so it had a "bad spot" that they had to cut out taking several feet off the final height of the tree. Klapec Trucking transported the evergreen and Industrial Truck and Crane helped safely get the it down and then back up again in its new holiday home. Several other volunteers stood in the cold and snow to help get the lights on the tree.
The lights will stay off until Saturday night, when it is lit in grand fashion following the Light-Up Night parade and proceed the annual holiday fireworks display.
Light-Up Night also features tons of stuff to do in and around town all day long. To see all that is going on in order to make plans visit http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/making-sure-light-up-night-is-bright.
Light-Up Night also features tons of stuff to do in and around town all day long. To see all that is going on in order to make plans visit http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/making-sure-light-up-night-is-bright.
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