A Christmas Tree Story

Serendipity; (noun) the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Each November, our staff gathers to map out the upcoming year’s stories. 2025 will be our 20th year of publishing! But I digress. Our meeting provides the chance to parse ideas that have been pitched to us or suggest our own ideas. Publisher Bernie ultimately greenlights what he thinks our readers will enjoy. When it was my turn, I asked, “Are any of you familiar with the multitude of Christmas trees decorated in the dunes behind the ferry terminal near Douglass Park?” One week later, an unsolicited email dropped into our laps from Matthew Will.

Serendipity.

Matthew wrote “Does Cape May Magazine have any interest in highlighting my father, Paul? He lives in North Cape May and a few years back began placing Christmas tree ornaments on a single tree along the road to Douglass Park. As the years went on, we began to see more trees decorated by other people who saw his one tree. Dad continued his own tradition and was delighted to see more and more trees decorated each year around Christmas time.”

Dad Paul and I scheduled a time to meet on an early December morning in 2023. The skies were 9/11 blue. Several trees were already sporting ornaments. Majestically, a bald eagle soared above our heads.  You can’t make this stuff up.

Paul Will is a twinkle-eyed humble man who 12 years ago unknowingly started a tradition with one little tree in the dunes along Beach Drive in North Cape May leading to Douglass Park.

Just after Thanksgiving on a frequent daily walk, Paul randomly thought to decorate one of the wild junipers populating the dunes. Later that morning, he rummaged through his garage and collected a few Christmas ornaments. Just enough for a tiny “Charlie Brown” tree that stood near the road.

Paul wasn’t sure if anyone would notice his little tree.  That wasn’t his motivation. If they did and it brought a smile to their face, then in his eyes it was worth it. 

Year Two, he decorated his same tree along with a nearby larger one. Passersby would stop with a smile to say hello and Merry Christmas. 

Year Three, wife Sally joined the fun. They decorated several trees. Observing their creative endeavor in progress, several folks asked if it would be alright if they did the same thing. At this point, Paul reached out to ask Lower Township Public Works if it was okay. “As long as you remove the ornaments after the holidays,” was the response.

Year Four, it took off and a tradition was born.

Year 12, over 90 trees sparkled in the dunes, some dressed simply with leftover ornaments. Perfectly complementing the juniper’s blue clumps of berries on full seasonal display, monochromatic blue seemed to be a popular decorating choice (mine included). More impressive were the themed trees, some of which are highlighted in the evening with solar lights. 

Here are some of the stories behind each:

Breast Cancer Awareness

Perhaps the most noticeable tree sports a volume of pink ribbons standing out amongst the other ornaments. On a nearby sapling are extra blank ribbons and a black sharpie for folks to fill out a loved one’s name and attach it to the tree. I filled out two. One for my Grandmother Yvette and one for my friend’s mom, Antoinette, both of whom lost their breast cancer battles.

Locals Debbie Depierro and Annie Reardon are the masterminds behind this tree. In 2022, they decorated a tree, but in 2023 they wanted to decorate a tree with more meaning.

Said Debbie, “We have so many friends and family that have been touched by this horrific disease.  I can’t tell you how many people stopped to talk to us as we were putting it up.” Debbie continued, “Folks were crying and hugging us. We received so much thanks for giving them a place to honor a loved one or to honor themselves for their survival.” 

When it came time to take down the decorations, Debbie told me she couldn’t believe the number of ribbons with women’s names. She said, “That tree was way more than just a Christmas tree. It was an honor to meet all the women and hear their stories and read their names. They are the heroes. Not me and Annie”

Lori, Steve, and Kona  

Before moving here full-time, Lori and Steve O’Donnell visited the area frequently, at all times of the year. They noticed the trees within the first two or three years after Paul started the tradition. Like Debbie and Annie, this is their second year participating.

Said Steve, “We simply wanted to be a part of sharing the joy these trees bring to our community.”  Some of the ornaments are homemade, with a few specifically designed in memory of family members and friends.  One, honoring Steve’s nephew, features a stocking with a baseball and a homemade bucktail lure; he was a big Phillies fan, and he loved to fish.  Another represents a large ‘honey candy’, in memory of Lori’s sister.  Others—candy canes, fish and dog bones—are just for fun!

Sharon Simons / Joseph Harris Tribute  

Sharon Simons is another local and lives close to the ferry. “I enjoy looking at the decorated trees for Christmas each year and I always look forward to the festive display,” said Sharon. She continued, “Honestly, I never planned to become one of those who actually decorates a tree.”

It was the death of her brother, Joseph Harris, III who moved in with her and husband John in 2017. Joe, only in his 50s, suffered from advanced heart failure and endured numerous hospital admissions. As his condition advanced, he was scheduled to have a heart pump placed, but unfortunately passed before the surgeon was able to place the pump.

The tree is special for Sharon and John’s family because over the years before he died, Joe would enjoy a cup of coffee and pray his rosary every day in Douglass Park. He loved it there and enjoyed watching ferries arrive and depart.

Sharon wrote to me, “We decided to decorate a tree in his memory. We put all emerald green balls on it which was his birthstone. The other balls we added were the birthstone colors of his parents, daughter, and siblings. Joe was the oldest of seven children.”

Sharon and John, along with their children, co-decorators Kate, Olivia, Hannah, and Jill, placed a crystal star at the top. Sharon visits the tree every day to say hello to her brother and to make sure everything stays in order.

Each ornament was secured strongly enough to endure the sometimes-harsh Delaware Bay winter weather. Despite the many wind and rainstorms, all ornaments remained present and accounted for on her daily visits. Like several others, a solar light at the bottom illuminates the tree at night. “We chose a location close to the end of the road leading to Douglass Park since that was close to where Joe used to sit each day.”

Sharon and John plan to keep this family tradition going every year.

Streaker Family

Husband and wife team Dawn and Will Streaker along with son John Davis chose to decorate their tree exclusively with sparkling silver balls that catch the sunlight, making a glittering statement against the deep green of the junipers and their abundant clusters of blue berries.

Will is a regular visitor to the bay and Douglass Park and noticed the decorated trees one day. However, it was son John who prompted the family to get in on the fun. The Streaker family has lived in North Cape May since 1967. Son Will was born here. Like many of us who are fortunate enough to live or visit in the area, the idea of choosing a tree to decorate is a very appealing and festive holiday activity.

Lower Township Class of ’68

As with all these stories, the story of the class of ’68 tree begins with a stroll along Beach Avenue towards Douglass Park. Debbie Christman, originally from West Cape May and who now resides in Erma, often noticed the trees. However, they didn’t really register with her until 2020.

2020 was the year of COVID, masks, and canceled family Christmas gatherings. Debbie decided to counteract all the cancellations by choosing her own tree in the hopes of helping people smile. She reached out to her 1968 Lower Township Regional High School classmates with the idea and suggested that everyone decorate with only white, silver, or gold ornaments in order to make it easier for folks to identify “their” tree. Topping their tree with an Angel was Debbie’s way of commemorating classmates who have passed on.

As Paul and I continued our stroll that crisp December morning of our first meeting, a car pulled alongside us.  Rolling down her passenger window, Kathy Basara asked if we knew the story behind the trees.

Frequent visitors to Cape May, Kathy and Matt Basara have yet to decorate a tree. They didn’t realize that visitors are welcome to choose a tree to decorate alongside locals. Said Kathy, “We were wondering about the story behind the trees and happened to see the two of you walking along the path as we were admiring everything. When we pulled over to ask if you knew the story behind the trees, little did we expect it would turn out that the mastermind who started it all was walking along with you!”

Serendipitous

“Obviously, people are sharing their feelings and memories of loved ones during the Christmas season in the trees they decorate,” Kathy continued. “It warms our hearts and reminds us that Christmas is much deeper than the commercialism that often dominates the season. We look forward to seeing the tradition continue in the future and look forward to seeing the number of trees grow each year.”

Which brings us to all the important environmental concerns folks should have. As Paul mentioned earlier, in year three, he reached out to Lower Township Public Works for permission to continue this tradition and was given the go-ahead. I can personally attest to continued permission granted as one day in late December while walking my dog along Beach Drive (and admiring the trees), I ran into one of our dedicated Public Works employees. Keep in mind, this is Year 12, going on 13 of this tradition. When asked for permission, I was told, “Yes it’s okay with us as long as folks continue to remove everything in a timely manner.” She went on to say that the Public Works crew enjoys the spectacle as much as everyone else.

Please, if you join in this tradition, be good stewards for our environment.  Do not cut any limbs or remove any small trees. Please remove your decorations in a timely manner.  In many traditions, January 6th is regarded as the end of the Christmas season. Also referred to as Little Christmas (known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan) when men and women would reverse traditional household duty roles.  Women were given the day off and men would take on household duties like cleaning, cooking, and caring for children.

Originally celebrated as the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day, January 6 is a Christian feast which marks the visit of the three wise men to Bethlehem after the birth of Christ. January 6th serves as a perfect benchmark to collect your ornaments.