Albion Merchants seek donations for live Christmas tree at Courthouse Square

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2021 at 2:08 pm

File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from December 2013 shows an artificial Christmas tree on the lawn of the Courthouse Square. The Albion Merchants Association is raising money for a large live Christmas tree.

ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is seeking donations to have a Christmas tree planted in the Courthouse Square.

The group has an $800 fundraising goal for a “Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce” tree. It is trying to hit the fundraising goal soon so the tree could be planted this spring by Preston’s Lawncare.

Artifical trees have been set up at the Courthouse Square in the past by the Village of Albion DPW. More recently, the DPW has set up that tree at the Waterman Park, where there is a large Santa mural. The Albion Betterment Committee is working to have a bronze Santa statue in that park, about a half block south of the Erie Canal.

The Albion Merchants Association said the live tree planted at the Square would be used for events, including tree-lighting, Christmas caroling, family photo opportunities and the annual Hometown Holiday celebration in December. It would also add to Albion’s ambiance as a “Santa village,” said Natasha Wasuck, who is spearheading the project for the AMA.

To see the GoFundMe for the tree, click here.

Photo by Elliott Neidert: This drone photo from February 2017 was taken by Elliott Neidert. It shows the Courthouse Square with a light coating of snow.