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The 18-foot-tall tree takes some time
to put up. The process usually starts around Veterans Day and takes
at least three full days with the courthouse closed to finish. This
year, due to Veterans Day being on a Tuesday and the courthouse
closing for only one day, work on the tree did not start until
Thanksgiving week.
Each year citizens of Logan County
donate ornaments for the tree. The ornaments donated in years past
make their way higher up the tree as a new Christmas season arrives
and new ornaments are donated.
The tree is so tall that scaffolding
has to be set up to work on the top of it. The branches are fluffed
and put into place, and the ornaments from the previous years are
hung.
Two years ago the Quilters at Heart
Guild was contacted and asked if they would be interested in
quilting a skirt for the community tree. After two years of
dedicated work the guild has completed the skirt, and it will be
placed underneath the tree this year. The skirt is 12 feet by 12
feet and is made with machine-pieced, quilted Christmas log cabin
blocks. The quilt's back is an embroidered quilting pattern of holly
and ivy. Many hands and hearts, much time and talent, and love for
quilting and our community can be seen in this one-of-a-kind tree
skirt.
In the past ornaments and photos have
been donated. This year a new feature has been added. People can
submit stories about how they share. The stories should be about how
people share, how organizations work to get funding for projects to
help the community.
The charitable efforts can also extend
beyond the Logan County community. The stories will be laminated and
placed around a log fencing that will surround the Christmas tree.
Everyone in Logan County is encouraged
to participate in this community project. Churches, businesses,
families, schools, service clubs, organizations and individuals are
invited to share their highlighted stories of "Sharing Hands and
Hearts of Logan County."
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People who have stories that they wish
to submit should send them to Judy Awe, 123 Crestwood Drive,
Lincoln, IL 62656-1360. The stories should be typed or neatly
written. They will be placed on templates that are 8.5 by 11 inches.
Ornaments that are donated should be no
more than 6 inches square and weigh no more then 8 ounces. They
should be submitted in an appropriate box that can be used for
future storage.
If you have photos for your ornaments,
they should not exceed 5 by 7 inches. Photos should be submitted in
envelopes. Frames will be made to fit. Personal information should
also be included. A label information registry will be available to
keep for future reference.
All ornaments and photos will be
identified, labeled and recorded in the permanent register displayed
at the tree location. Ornaments and photos have been received at the
Logan County Courthouse security desk.
Along with the community Christmas
tree, there will also be a food drive. A box for nonperishable food
donations will be kept near the security desk. The nonperishable
food will be donated to the local food pantries.
The courthouse will be open after the
Christmas parade on Dec. 4 for viewing the community tree. The tree
can also be viewed on the following two Sundays, Dec. 7 and 14, from
noon until 3 p.m.
Everyone is invited to come see the
community Christmas tree and see the kinds of things that are done
throughout the year as a part of the "Sharing Hands and Hearts of
Logan County." This project is designed to promote and recognize the
sharing and caring that people do in the community.
Awe said,
"It is a project that everyone can participate in and share."
[Don Todd]
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