History
The History of the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Children’s Lake
Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania
Please note: There are many names of individuals who helped to make this event a very special part Christmas celebration. If any names are omitted, we apologize. There are many years when there was very little information available. Thank you.
The Boiling Springs Civic Association sponsored the first Christmas tree lighting and caroling in December, 1983, in front of the South Middleton Middle School (now known as the Iron Forge Elementary School). A large evergreen in front of the school was decorated, and the Boiling Springs High School Chorus, directed by music teacher Sam Lappano, led the caroling. The person responsible for the initial Christmas tree lighting and caroling was Josie Henry. Thereafter, for a number of years, she and her husband, Tom, and Richard and Nancy Tritt, decorated the clock tower by the lake. (1)
The first tree lighting at the lake took place the first Sunday of December, 1991. It was a rather simple ceremony. There was a Christmas tree on the land, near the AT headquarters. There were no luminaries around the lake. There was no arrival of Santa Claus. The ceremony was celebrated in a very dark environment, as no lights were provided for the evening. The ceremony for 1991 was organized by Molly Garman, Mike Eschenmann (Parks and Rec director) and others from the Boiling Springs Civic Association.
The ceremony in 1992 was again led by Molly Garman, assisted by Linda Adcock, the president of the Boiling Springs Civic Association. This ceremony included the luminaries around the lake for the very first time. The plastic milk jugs, used for the luminaries, have been gathered from various groups around our town for many years. The high school cafeteria staff, the Boiling Springs Tavern, Aniles, Cafe 101, and others have kindly donated the plastic jugs. That first year, 1992, approximately 500 luminaries were placed around the lake. Also that year, and from then on, local Scout troops placed the luminaries around the lake, a few days prior to the ceremony, and they were responsible for lighting the luminaries the night of the Tree Lighting. The ceremony included the arrival of Santa Claus, the tree floated on a raft on the lake, and the singing of various Christmas Carols. At that time, there was no gazebo. Santa and the elves greeted the children in a fenced-in, luminary lit area near where the gazebo currently sits. For this 1992 ceremony, Lou Marinacci had constructed the raft for the floating of the tree. Ellen Rundle helped director Molly Garman with publicity. Paul Naugle, the art teacher at Boiling Springs High School had some of his art students make posters, and those posters were spread around the community. Wayne Noss Flowers donated the garlands.
The ceremony in 1993 followed the same agenda as the ceremony in 1992. This celebration in 1992 was extremely well received, as many many people attended, which did present a problem with parking around the town and the lake area. The organizers did not expect such a large crowd for this year’s event.
In 1994, the ceremony became a much larger event. A committee, again led by Molly Garman and Mike Eschenmann, was formed, and plans for the 1994 ceremony began early in the fall. One major addition was that the program included various local groups participating in the celebration. The Boiling Springs High School Chorus, the Otterbein United Methodist Bell Choir, the Boiling Springs High School Brass Quintet, all performed, in addition to the activities that had taken place the previous year. There were also a few carols with which the audience sang along. Students from the high school did short readings relating to Christmas. A few high school students dressed up as elves, and they helped hand out candy canes, which had been donated by Karns Foods. The elves also assisted Santa. The South Middleton Township Fire Company provided hot chocolate, as well as much needed light. This year, programs, to help with the group singing, were distributed to all in attendance. Again, there was a very large crowd, but the South Middleton Fire Police were added to help with security, directing traffic and parking.
The ceremonies in 1995 thru 1998 followed the same program as the 1994 Tree Lighting Ceremony. In 1995, the gazebo was constructed. It was dedicated and built in memory of Tom Sabatino. From that point on, Santa greeted the children in the gazebo. In 1996, the Boiling Springs Trumpeters were invited to play their music, along with the same groups that had performed in 1994 and 1995.
In 1999, the ceremony was scaled back to a less ambitious program. The luminaries were placed around the lake, Santa did arrive, and spent much time in the gazebo with the children, the Christmas tree, always donated, did float on the lake, and the crowds remained quite large. The musicians from Boiling Springs High School played a number of Christmas carols. The same support groups were there to ensure that the ceremony would be a success. The workers from South Middleton Township Municipal Authority were given the task of floating the tree on the lake, and had done so since the 1992 celebration. They continue to do that work even most recently.
From 2000 until 2020, the Tree Lighting Ceremony has remained basically the same. Some changes included adding the second tree in the gazebo. This custom began in 2016 when the Christmas tree could not be floated on the lake, in 2016 and in 2017 due to work being done with the lake, which required the water level to be lowered. In 2018, the tree was again able to be floated on the lake, but placing and decorating the tree in the gazebo continued. For several years, one of the local Girl Scout troops offered arts and crafts activities in front of the Appalachian Trail Headquarters. Also for several years, the local F&M Bank offered cookies to the audience. In 2019 there was a plan initiated to give the children more activities, instead of having to wait in line to see Santa. A number of activities took place in the Boiling Springs Tavern parking lot, including face painting, a small petting zoo, crafts, and other fun attractions. Many volunteers, including board members from the Bubbler Foundation assisted with the activities in the Tavern parking lot. In 2020, there was no formal ceremony due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The luminaries were lit, the tree floated in the lake, and there was a second tree in the gazebo, but there was no singing, no cookies, no hot chocolate, no candy canes, and no arrival of Santa Claus.
One year, around 2014, the Christmas tree lights on the tree on the lake did not light up at the time when they were to be turned on. It had been a windy day, and the plug became disconnected on the float. The situation was later repaired, but the tree lights did not shine that evening. There were other notable events over the years. In 2002, the tree in the lake fell over a few days before the ceremony, but was placed back in its normal position before the ceremony. Shortly after New Years, on January 22, 2002, the tree was damaged by vandals. There were other times when the ropes securing the float were cut, and the raft and the tree floated down to the other end of the lake, and had to be returned to its normal spot, being tugged by a rowboat. There were a few years when there was a horse drawn carriage that traveled along the AT by the lake. There might have even been a year when Santa arrived in that carriage. In 2003, there was a snowstorm and the weather was frigid cold. The attendance that year was low. In 2004, there was a marriage proposal at the ceremony, and the response was “yes!”
Circa 2015, after the holidays, and in to January and February, with icy, snowy, rainy, muddy conditions, the tree on the lake could not be removed until well in to March. The Christmas tree, due to the fault of no one, was on the lake as the Easter holiday approached. Finally, the conditions improved, and with the approval of the AT, the trucks were able to drive on the trail along the lake, and the tree was removed.
There have been many people who have volunteered over these past years to make this event so special. Hopefully, the majority of those who volunteered to make this ceremony so special are remembered in this history. From the very early years, 1991-2007, those involved with the set-up were: Charlie Gibb, Lee Gelinas, Joe Winton, John Garman, Joe and Bev Malmendier, Dan Monken, Jack Moscato, Roy Debski, Eric and Sandy Edstrom, Bob Heidecker and John Funt. Mary Ann Taylor and Jean Manzione helped with various decorations around the lake. In more recent years, Victor Foose, Jack Kutz, Ann Roeder, Cory Carothers, John and Darlene Benoit, Edyie Rob, Ken and Linda Stoltz, Rob Vigil, and many others have helped with the set-up. The laying of the greens has been directed primarily by three volunteers: Betsi Oyler, Kathy Waddel, and more recently, Kathy Westbrook. Many others have volunteered to help with the laying of the greens. In 1992, Linda Adcock initiated the idea of having the luminaries around the lake. Betsi Oyler was also very instrumental with this project until 2007, when Marilyn Morosky took over. In 2020, Marilyn was joined by Rachel Andreoli, who will continue this role from 2020 on. It should also be pointed out, that every summer, Linda Stoltz, Marilyn Morosky, Dorty Christopher, and other volunteers have washed and cleaned out the hundreds of plastic luminaries.
Electricity for lighting the Christmas tree floating in the lake was originally provided by John and Valerie Kirakofe. For the past several years, the Yellow Breeches Fly Shop, and currently TCO have provided the electricity. For many years, Walt Pasky has been the person responsible for rowing Santa across the lake, to the boat ramp near the gazebo. Rick Adams has done an outstanding job playing the role of that very special guest, and his wife Cynthia has been his assistant for many years. In 2017, Dean Clepper substituted for Rick, and did a terrific job. Santa has always been very patient with each child, and spent as much time as necessary, to find out what the child wanted for Christmas. Over the years, local girl scouts and more recently, high school students have played the role of elves. Betsi Oyler organized this in the 1990s. In later years, Linda Stoltz, Donna Biss and Tara Swank headed this activity. The main role of the elves was to hand out candy canes, and later in the ceremony help Santa with his visit with the children. Ken Stoltz served as MC of the ceremony for all but two years. Rob Gray and Rich Boes served as MC the years when Ken was not present. Jeff Noble and Dave Yinger, Boiling Springs High School band directors, led their brass musicians to the gazebo to perform their beautiful Christmas music prior to the arrival of Santa. During the 1994-1998 ceremonies, when several musical groups performed, Boiling Springs High School choral director, Keith Roden, directed his choir. The committee for those 1994-1998 ceremonies included a committee for planning. On that committee were: Molly Garman, chairwoman, Betsi Oyler, Mike Eschenmann (Director of Parks and Rec), Kitty Gelinas and Ken Stoltz.
The Christmas trees have been donated by many since the beginning of this ceremony. We have a record of a few of the people or groups that donated Christmas trees. They are: Sunset Gardens, owned by Greg Gulden (1992, 1994, 2001), Linda Martin and Autumn Rickrode (1995, 1996), Kenneth Kurtz (1997), Brett and Tammy Ritter (2007), Liberty Farms, owned by the Longeneckers and Jared Cook (2018, 2019, 2020), and Ben Chamberlain (2019, 2020). The red bows, with gold trim, were made on Veterans’ Day, by fourth grade students, over a three year period, under the direction of teacher, Linda Stoltz. These pretty bows have adorned the Christmas tree on the lake for many years. This ceremony would never have taken place without the hard work from the South Middleton Township Municipality workers. They have been wonderful. They assemble the metal raft, pick-up the Christmas tree(s), and float the tree in the lake, usually the Friday before Thanksgiving. We also must thank South Middleton Parks and Rec for permitting us to use their sound system, for many of these past years. Certainly, the South Middleton Township Fire Police have done a wonderful job of directing traffic, and helping pedestrians cross Rt. 174. Finally, the people who took on the role of chairmen of the ceremony, who did such a wonderful job leading and bringing together all groups were: Joe Winton, Mike Eschenman, Joe Malmendier, Mike Crochet, Rich and Jackie Boes, and for the past three years, Jorie Hanson.
Credits:
(1) At a Place Called the Boiling Springs….Richard Tritt and Randy Watts, page 222.
Our Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony has always been a commercial free endeavor. That approach has always been very successful and special. Much thanks goes to the “Sentinel” for providing much information regarding ceremonies from previous years. Also, much thanks to them for being very supportive of our ceremony and sending reporters and photographers to cover the event.
Thanks also to Betsi Oyler, Tony Delucca and Beth Roeder for providing much information (newspaper articles, programs, BSCA newsletters) which has been a tremendous help with this project. Many BSCA members and other residents have provided a great deal of information regarding ceremonies from many years ago. Thanks to all the many many volunteers who have worked so diligently to make this very popular event such a great success.