The Rockport Christmas Tree Committee, now in it’s 115th year, is Rockport’s oldest ongoing tradition.
Started in the early 1890’s by Rockport grocer Tim Sheehan, the tradition of remembrance is carried on today. Members of the Rockport community 80 years of age and older, shut-ins, residents with illnesses and others are remembered on Christmas Day with the delivery of a fruit basket and cookies. Residents of area housing, nursing homes and local hospitals receive a visit in the days before Christmas. Santa Claus himself visits residents of the Den Mar Nursing Home and presents each resident with a small basket of fruit and other goodies.
On Christmas morning at 10:30AM Santa arrives in Dock Square and gives all the Town children a bag of candy, fruit and goodies in the same tradition of the 1890’s.
Santa’s helpers will be meeting at Spiran Hall on Broadway at 7PM on December 22 to pack the bags and baskets. On Christmas morning volunteers are welcome to meet at Spiran Hall at 9AM to deliver baskets. All you need to help is willingness and a smile.
The Committee needs your help to continue this tradition. We rely solely on volunteers and donations. Donations may be mailed to the Rockport Christmas Tree Committee, % Doreen Carter, 2 Mary Helen Way, Rockport, MA 01966 or dropped off at any Rockport National Bank location or Smith Lumber and Hardware. Online donations thru paypal can be made atwww.rockportchristmastree.org. Donations are tax deductible.
We are all saddened by the loss of our friend and longtime chairman, Ray Smith, but his work goes on through this committee.
If you have a neighbor or friend who you think would like to receive a basket, just let any committee member know. Committee members are Bud Woods, Jay Smith, Gary and Faye Anderson, Nikole Gale, Lisa Littlefield, Doreen Carter, Judy Harris, Mary Helen MacLeod, Linda Johnson, Janice Ramsden, April Beaton, Sally Frithsen, Ruth George, Andrea Ritchie, Wanda Visnick, Jeff and Mary-Kathryn Gray, Judy Bogage, Pat Brown, Chris Murch, Darlene Trumbour and John Thompson or leave a note with name and address at the Lumber desk at Smith Hardware and Lumber.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Joey, we need you and your readers help! for the first year ever the Christmas Tree Committee has not been able to find a horse and wagon or carriage to deliver Santa to Dock Square. With the passing of Ray Smith it has become more urgent that we have a horse and carriage this year. Please pass the word and ask anyone who may be interested to call Buddy Woods at Ace in Rockport 978 546 2229.
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