Enormous Christmas Tree Cut Down in Danvers

Photos Credit: Tim Donahue, Danvers resident

Longtime Danvers resident Tim Donahue was pleased to be able to donate this year’s Christmas tree to the Town of Danvers. He and his family watched as town crews cut the tree down on Monday, and transported the tree to its place of honor in Danvers Square.

“I’m looking forward to my daughters Ava (4 years old) and Moira (almost 2) seeing this tree lit up for the entire town,” Donahue said.

The tree will be lit at the conclusion of the Holiday Festival around 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. The town’s annual Holiday Festival will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. in Danvers Square. Mass..

“When I first bought this house from my father-in-law, he told me that in 1995 the tree was 3-inches tall and growing out of a stump In the corner of the garage,” Donahue said. “The garage was in rough shape so he transplanted the perfect looking sapling to where it is today before the garage was completely rebuilt. Otherwise the sapling would have been destroyed during construction.”

Throughout the years, Donahue’s father-in-law started decorating the tree every Christmas from the ground, and then a small ladder. And then a big ladder.

“My first year owning the house I decorated it with a bucket lift. It has since gotten too big, is now getting too close to the house, and it is too big for us to decorate,” Donahue said.

Danvers Department of Public Works crews had their hands full with the task of cutting the Norway Spruce down. The tree was about 40-feet-tall when it was cut down, and weighed 3,200 pounds.

The tradition of having a Christmas tree in Danvers Square is almost 90 years old.