Beginning a new Christmas tradition can be both exciting and stressful, and the folks at the Adair County Genealogy & History Research Center feel good about theirs.
2024 will be the first year that the Genealogy Center holds a Christmas tree decorating contest. This is a contest that will be open to businesses, organizations, and groups in the area interested in helping deck the halls.
“About two weeks ago, Ernestine Bennett showed Annita Dial and I where some community was doing (a Christmas tree contest). And she said, ‘This looks like a great idea!’ And we always have Christmas trees in here. A big one and then a couple others. But we thought it would be a good way for businesses or organizations and groups to represent themselves in addition to the parade and people could come in and enjoy the lights and trees and so forth. So we just adopted that immediately, and it didn’t take much to get it going. The Chamber of Commerce presented it (last) Tuesday and I think several of those businesses will pick up on it,” genealogist and Adair County historian, Mike Watson, said of the contest’s origin.
There is no cost to displaying a tree at the Research Center for the contest, but the tree must fall under certain parameters due to limitations on space and electricity. All trees must be four feet tall or less. If the decorations involve lights, they must be battery-operated.
Outside of these restrictions, the organizations which opt to participate are largely free to decorate how they want. If a business sells cars for example, the Center is encouraging them to choose car-related décor for their tree. Watson and Dial also both hope to see at least one “Charlie Brown”-style tree on display.
Christmas holds a special place in the hearts of those at the Research Center. Phil Hanna, a genealogist who passed away earlier this year, loved Christmas trees. Dial and Watson say that he would often spend time admiring the Christmas tree between the desks at the Center.
“We’ve toyed with the idea that the first place winner gets the First Place Phil Hanna Christmas Decorating Award,” Watson said. “That would be a good way to honor him… He loved the season.”
Watson also feels that the Genealogy and Research Center is a natural fit for Christmas celebrations. “We promote Thanksgiving and Christmas as times to sit down with your older relatives you don’t see all that often and ask questions and learn things about your ancestry… so we feel those two holidays promote genealogy and oral history and so forth.”
Decorating trees will be held on Nov. 19, 20, 21 or 25—3 to 6 pm or as arranged with the Research Center. Judging will take place during the first week of December by a “secret panel” of judges—first and second place awards will be given out. There will also be a “People’s Choice” for best tree which shall be voted on daily during that week by visitors. Winners of the contest will be announced in conjunction with the Columbia Christmas Parade on December 7.
“I’d love to have 25 or 30 (trees). It may not be that big the first year, but I think it will catch on,” Watson said.
Trees will be displayed in the Research Center through the end of December. For more information, you can contact Mike Watson at the Research Center at adairgenealogy@gmail.com or 270-380-1024.
By Kenley Godby
kenley@adairvoice.com
