The Christmas tree above which is chosen first place decoration recalls the memory of Jacob “Dude” Turner, a youthful community member killed a car accident in 2010 and who is now remembered by several activities.
Linden Seventh-Day Adventist Church Pastor Gary Howard and his wife have come to decorate and add to the Christmas tree the church is sponsoring on the Cass County Courthouse lawn.
Linden square christmas
Cass County’s courthouse square in Linden becomes a forest each Christmas when little green trees crop up on the lawn.
This year some 66 dark green trees of about two to three yards in height each are sprouting Christmas decorations. The atmosphere is “festive,” according to businessman and city council member Frank Lanier.
The trees each have several purposes as well as being festive. One of the most important is that they memorialize a family or civic citizen, and thus the grounds of the courthouse become warmly personal.
Another reason for the Christmas trees is that they support the town. They project an image for an organization. They call for a support of churches and Christmas time. And, importantly, they raise money for the Linden Lions’ Club and its several community activities.
The wooden trees are made by members of the club and then purchased by a family or organization for $50. The purchaser also decorates each tree. The Lions Club installs the trees on the courthouse grounds and lights them. And so each tree has its own meaning, special for someone or some thing.
The seasonal timberland enlivens Cass County’s historic courthouse. There’s plenty of room for more trees.
To add an increased meaning to Lanier’s impression, the little green Christmas trees create a “festive forest” for all of Cass County. They make the Christmas season bright and gay. They will be missed when the bleak mid-winter comes.