The Christmas tree for Monument Square was donated by the Perrys in Clarksburg.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The tree that Fred Perry of Clarksburg planted in his yard so many years ago will now light the holiday season outside the church he for so long attended.
The Fire Department, with the donation of a crane from Maxymillian Construction, erected the city's two Christmas trees on Wednesday at each end of Main Street.
The tree by City Hall was taken from Southview Cemetery; the larger one at Monument Square came from the Perry farm after Fire Director Steven Meranti knocked on the door.
Steven Perry said he was surprised by the request for the tall pine but pleased that it would stand in front of First Baptist Church, where his father's funeral was held nearly a year before.
His father, a trustee of the church, would have been pleased, too, he said. "I was very happy to do that," said Perry. "I said, 'sure.'"
He and his wife, Jerilyn, watched as the crane plucked the pine up after the trunk was cut and took pictures as it was hauled away down River Road. They estimated the tree was more than 40 years old after counting the rings. Steven Perry remembers his father planting it sometime in the 1960s.
Fred Perry was a North Adams native and brother of longtime city Parks and Recreation worker Robert "Chip" Perry. He was a Clarksburg firefighter for many years.
"He moved here in 1948," said his son. "We all grew up right here."
Perry's tree will be lit up on Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. as the kick off to the city's Hometown Holidays.
The Thanksgiving eve event will include the tree-lighting ceremony, carol singing with the Drury High band, and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on the Fire Department's historic Mack fire engine, along with goodie bags for local children filled with coloring books, crayons, candy canes and more.
This year, Hometown Holidays events will take place on the nights of Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 13 and 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature a variety of specials and activities for people to enjoy downtown. Each Thursday will have something different. Attractions will include holiday crafts, face painting, live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, gallery openings, and more.
North Adams Office of Tourism is grateful to Berkshire Bank, Cascade School Supplies, and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art for their help in staging the tree lighting.
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