Carnegie museum announces second year of Christmas tree fundraiser

FAIRFIELD — The Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield is once again providing residents an opportunity to honor or memorialize their loved ones with Christmas trees outside the museum.

The museum will provide a Christmas tree, along with lighting and electricity, to be placed on the south and east lawns outside the museum at 112 S. Court St. The trees cost $125, and the money will go to the museum. Those who purchase a tree are invited to decorate it with additional lighting or with photos or mementos of the person being honored. The museum board will provide appropriate standardized signage to recognize the family member or individual being recognized.

Dave Neff, in charge of the museum’s public relations and who is also in charge of this project, said 2021 was the first year the museum held this fundraiser, and it went so well that the museum board decided to do it again. It generated about $5,000 in revenue, with expenses around $2,400.

“We talked about it in August and reviewed the pros and cons,” Neff said. “We decided we’d give it a try for a second year. Last year, we even had a Girl Scout troop that wanted to be a part of this. We’re hoping to see a similar level of success this year.”

The museum has limited the number of trees on the lawn to 25, and residents still have time to purchase one because the deadline was recently extended from Oct. 29 to Nov. 11.

The lights to these Christmas trees will be turned on at the same time that the rest of the holiday lights are turned on in Central Park during the Holiday Lighting Ceremony on the evening of Friday, Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving. The trees will be left up until the second week of January, to give people time to collect their photos and decorations.

The museum gets the trees from Atwood’s Christmas Trees south of Packwood.

Neff said he got the idea to do a “holiday corner” of Christmas trees in 2021 after he and his wife, Sheri Blough Neff, grabbed a bite to eat in Ottumwa the year before. They visited a park where there were 100-plus Christmas trees. Neff investigated and discovered it was a fundraiser for Ottumwa’s Chamber of Commerce. He talked to the chamber’s executive director, and learned the city of Washington was doing something similar. Neff brought the idea back to the museum board, which loved it.

To learn more about this event or to purchase a tree, contact Neff at 641-919-4640.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com