The Journey of the Congress Hall Christmas Tree John Gerolstein, a semi-retired aide at Richard Teitelman Middle School in Cape May, moved his family into their home in Cape May 18 years ago, when the blue spruce on the front lawn was six feet tall. It became the family’s “picture tree,” the place where they documented birthdays, holidays, graduations, and the wedding of John’s daughter, Heidi. This past winter, they decided to donate the tree, now an imposing 34 feet, to Congress Hall’s Winter Wonderland. On November 19, it was transported to the hotel’s Grand Lawn, where it was decorated with 9,000 lights. “I’m just glad people got to enjoy and appreciate it the way we have all these years,” said John, who made a point of jogging by Congress Hall every evening so that he could see the picture tree “in all its glory.”
9am: Matt McFadden climbs approximately a third of the way up the tree to attach a nylon strap from the ball of a 75-foot crane, operated by Rip Shaw of Shaw Cranes. The boys cut through the stump with a chainsaw (after Matt returned safely to the ground).
7:00am: As the Congress Hall crew arrives at the Gerolstein property in West Cape May, John Gerolstein, daughter Heidi and husband Garrett Belnay take a final picture in honor of the tree.
9:30am: Rip Shaw of Shaw Cranes swings the crane 60 feet to the street, where the 2,000-pound tree is laid onto a 20-foot trailer, ready for the short journey to Congress Hall.
10am: The tree is en route to Congress Hall via Beach Avenue. A cradle built by the Cape Resorts crew braces the tree so that the branches aren’t injured on the trip. Trailer ratchets, complete with 2,000-pound test straps, keep it in place. “It was a just a little nervewracking,” says project manager and driver Bob Shepanski.
11am: The tree arrives at Congress Hall, ready for the stand to be attached. Ten men are stationed on two second-floor balconies, manning the four guide wires that allow the tree to be pulled upright and secured. “I thought it would be a little sad,” John said, “but it was great that hundreds of people got to see it looking so beautiful.”
Concierge 2013
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