A Town Tradition Becomes a Children’s Story…

The Tree in Dock Square was inspired by a real event. Jean’s husband grew up in Rockport, Massachusetts. When he was twelve, he and his father planted a three-foot sapling in the backyard of their home. It grew into a towering giant that began to threaten the house during winter storms. Rather than chopping it down and hauling it away, the family offered the pine to the town for its annual tree lighting ceremony. To the family’s delight, the tree was selected from among several being considered. The joy was short-lived, however. Jean’s father-in-law had died three years earlier, and as workers cut down the pine, memories of his loss became overwhelming. That changed on the night of the ceremony. As the tree was lit with holiday lights, the crowd cheering happily, community spirit and tradition transformed the family’s sorrow into joy once again. thetreeindocksquare.com.