BOY SCOUT Troop 460 first sold Christmas trees to raise money in the 1960s. They set up shop in an empty lot off Mount Airy's Main Street.
"We have steadily expanded with time," said Harry Thornburg, BSA Troop 460 Assistant Scoutmaster. "But what continues is that the people are very nice, the parents are helpful and the kids work like mad. We've seen generations of kids grow up."
The Christmas tree sale was the brainchild of former Troop 460 Scoutmaster Ray Grimes.
"I just thought it would be a good way to make the Scouts some money," recalled Grimes, who grows the trees sold by his former troop. "I didn't know it would continue."
In an average year, the troop sells up to 300 trees. This year it expects to sell more than 400.
The trees are sold in the lot adjacent to the Sharma Exxon (formerly Four County Exxon) on Route 27. But little else has changed.
"I think we keep getting return customers because we provide a good service," said Scout Ben Bohrer. "We hold the tree up for the customer, rotate it so they get a good look, cut off the stump so that the fresh cut takes water better, trim branches and then put it on their car."
The troop's 35 Scouts take turns operating the booth with their parents during the three to four weeks the lot is open each year.
This is the troop's major fund-raiser.
"It goes toward just about everything and anything," Bohrer said. "But mainly the money is used to offset the cost of Boy Scout summer camp, which can run from $150 to $200 a person."
Thornburg said the troop depends on the money earned through tree sales. "We average about $8,000 a year," he said.
Most of the trees are grown on South Mountain Farm in Gettysburg, Pa. The 200-acre farm is owned by Grimes.
"I did become interested in growing Christmas trees after running the Boy Scout stand for so many years," he said. "You do what you like and working with the trees, growing and harvesting them, is what I like to do. But it does give me a lot of pleasure to provide the trees for their sale."
"I can remember the Boy Scout Christmas tree stand ever since I was little," said Grimes' daughter Linda Rhodes. "My father has a soft spot in his heart for the Scouts."
Last weekend, business was brisk and the number of trees to sell was getting critically low. Rhodes, who owns Silver Meadow Farm, a 148-acre Christmas tree farm in Woodbine, sold the Scouts more trees. Driving pickup trucks and trailers, the Scouts hauled in nearly 100 trees from Pennsylvania. They will replenish their supply for this weekend.
"It was a madhouse," Thornburg said. "We must have sold 200 trees in two days."
Troop 460 will be selling a fresh supply of trees this week and next. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays.
Holiday lights contest
Mount Airy once again will show off its holiday lights this season. Town residents are urged to enter their handiwork in the third annual Holiday Lights Decorating Contest.
The contest is sponsored by the Mount Airy Beautification Commission. Chairwoman Patty Williamson said prizes donated by local business will be awarded to the top three contestants for most original, most beautiful and best effort.
Commission members have decided to run the contest the entire holiday season because of inclement weather.
To enter or to be selected as a judge, send a card with your name, address and phone number to Mount Airy Town Hall, Attn: Holiday Lights Contest, 100 S. Main St., Mount Airy 21771, or call Williamson at 301-829-1593. Specify if you are interested in being a contestant or a judge.
Lesa Jansen's Southwest neighborhood column appears each Friday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.