Santa: ‘It’s like a Rockwell painting come to life’
By Deborah Rose
The spirit of the holiday season makes its way into New Milford every year with grace.
The downtown lampposts will be decorated with greens, bows, and white lights, and come the Saturday after Thanksgiving – this year, Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. – nearly 20 cut evergreen trees erected along the 0.2-mile green will be illuminated for the season.
The lighting of the trees is sponsored by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce and is among the town’s most popular events.
“We are fortunate to have such a beautiful town center and an organization that has for nearly 60 years given to this community in such a special way,” said Chamber Executive Director Bob Reiling.
The festive display of 17 trees, each strung with colored lights, is a longtime gift of the New Milford United Methodist Church’s Men’s Club to the community.
A special guest who travels from the North Pole to New Milford will again return this year to help townspeople ring in the holiday season. He is expected to flip the switch to turn on the lights.
After, Santa will meet children to hear their holiday wishes at the town’s iconic bandstand on the south end of the Green.
“New Milford at Christmas is likely my favorite visit anywhere in the world,” said Santa in his reply to NewMilfordNow.org about his upcoming visit. “It’s like a Rockwell painting come to life.”
“The children are some of the best behaved and the reindeer can feel the spirit of the holiday,” Santa said, summing up his message with a note that he could smell from his workshop the cookies from a new recipe Mrs. Claus is working on in the kitchen.
Reiling said the Chamber is honored to have Santa present to bring the spirit of the holiday season to life.
He also acknowledged the hard work it takes to erect the trees to set the scene for the season’s magic.
“The Men’s Club does an amazing job every year,” he said. “The town is lucky to have their dedication.”
In daylight, the trees along the Green are striking in the sunlight.
Come night, though, the Green is transformed into what resembles a scene from a painting.
The colored lights cast a soft glow at night on the buildings that dot the east and west sides of Main Street and complement the dim candles set in the windows of the historic homes.
Individuals and families come from near and far to view the scene – and explore what has for many become an annual tradition.
“The joy that it brings to people is really why we [put up the trees],” said Ralph Williams III., who has been involved with the club for about 35 years.
He started helping as a youth alongside his father, Ralph Williams Jr.. Now, Ralph Williams III’s son, Ryan, helps, too.
“It could be for people that live in New Milford or people that live on other side of state that come to town to see the trees,” he said. “That’s what it’s about.”
Williams relayed the “smile on people’s faces” at the tree lighting ceremony and when motorists and walkers are on Main Street and spot individuals and families near the trees taking pictures throughout the season.
The tradition of cutting down, placing, and decorating the trees on the picturesque New Milford Green was started by resident Walter Schutte in 1967.
After Schutte’s death, the tradition was carried on by Frank Landig, the owner of the former Village Hardware, who was affiliated with the New Milford United Methodist Church. Schutte had been an employee at the hardware store.
Over the years, the Men’s Club has worked with Angevine Farm in Warren, where club members cut the trees. After the Town and the club have communicated about tree locations – to avoid the Green’s sprinkler system – volunteers spend a day setting up the trees.
This year, trees will be erected Nov. 16 beginning at 8 a.m. on the Green. Efforts will be led by the Men’s Club, along with help from friends and family.
Those interested in helping are asked to email rw3ralph@yahoo.com.
