Huge ‘Christmas Tree’ at York Co. Courthouse on chopping block

This tree is a tree, but it is not just any old tree. It is the city of York’s tree. It is York County’s tree, too. This tree sits at the most historic intersection of the most historic spot in York County. It soars at least 100 feet tall, high above the county’s most historic building that it shades.

Yet some want to cut her throat with an ax.

She is huge and stately. She wears jewelry of Christmas lights every year and never asks for more. She always is beautiful. As with any great lady, nobody knows her real age and she ain’t tellin’.

But this deodar cedar tree at least seven decades old, and probably older, is apparently close to a pine box. The tree at York County’s most historic spot is starting to tilt. The old girl is falling, it appears. She is slanting a bit, and looks to be on her last legs. If she fell there would be no getting up.

York’s tree, county officials say, is dying.

But the massive tree outside the York County Courthouse that fronts the intersection of Liberty and Congress streets is not just wood. As York’s Christmas Tree, it has lit up the night and led Santa to York since at least World War II and maybe longer.

When politicians argued about not lighting her up 15 years ago after decades of lights, people in the community roared until the politicians and bureaucrats came to their senses and the lights went back up.

And now county leaders want to cut her down.

What?

Have county leaders finally lost it?

Do they want wood war in York?

No, they claim that the cedar tree has stopped growing. She hasn’t grown in four or five years. She is “slanting” toward the intersection and if she were to fall there would be damage and maybe injuries, and not just to the tree. More, York County’s taxpayers have spent close to $10 million dollars on repairs to the courthouse that is scheduled to re-open at the end of the year.

Just in time for Christmas. But apparently, without the tree.

“We know there is history and tradition with this tree,” said York County Manager Bill Shanahan, who has petitioned the city of York to have the tree cut down. “It matters to people.”

But the tree raises a safety threat, Shanahan said. An arborist looked at the tree and determined the tree has not grown in years. The prognosis: call hospice.

“If it goes it could fall right in the middle of the street and somebody could get hurt,” Shanahan said.

More, the huge tree with its canopy and root system has caused moisture and other problems for the building that his being renovated at huge expense, and cuts down on the view of the historic building, Shanahan said.

County leaders would keep the trunk of the tree, have benches made and put in from the original tree material, and put up a plaque emblazoned to tell everybody where the mighty tree once stood.

Even though the tree is on county property, it is inside the city of York historic district. So Shanahan has had to petition the city of York to ask for permission to cut the tree down. Cutting a tree in York is not as easy as grabbing pruning shears and a saw.

York’s city codes require property in the downtown historic district, including the exterior of buildings and even trees, to get approval for changes. What used to be called York’s historical commission, now called its board of architectural review, has to approve the saws being sharpened and used.

York’s planning director, David Breakfield, and City Manager Charles Helms confirmed that the county’s request to cut the most famous tree in York County down will be on the agenda for the architectural board at an Aug. 1 meeting at city hall.

Board member Ed Wood, one of seven appointed members of the board in the city of York, said he knows there will be people both for the tree getting chopped down for safety and financial reasons, and others who want the tree saved because it is a lot more than just wood. He has already heard pros and cons. He expects more.

“No question, the tree is a fixture in York,” Wood said.

The board will hear that this tree is not just some boards. But the commission, now called the board, will have to look at the county’s request, and will have to take seriously any safety concerns, Wood said.

So next week at 6 p.m. on Aug. 1, at York City Hall, the fate of York’s tree will be decided. It will either be a last-minute pardon, or she will get the guillotine and have her head cut off.

This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 8:01 AM with the headline "Huge ‘Christmas Tree’ at York Co. Courthouse on chopping block."