NORWAY — Hundreds of people are expected to watch Santa and Mrs. Claus light the town’s Christmas trees Friday evening, Dec. 5, at Butters Park on upper Main Street.

The tradition began with one tree in the 1970s by former Norway fire Chief Bob Butters, who passed away in 1994. It has continued for at least 40 years, according to Butters’ daughter, Bonnie Seames.

While no one can remember exactly what year it was started, many remember the first Christmas tree that was planted at the intersection of Water and Main streets. It was a blue spruce about 6 inches wide.

“It just kept growing and growing and growing,” Seames said.

As the tree got taller, it got harder and harder to place bulbs on it, she said. Finally, a ladder truck was used and when that didn’t quite reach, a boom truck was sent in, she said. By then, it was feared someone would fall into the adjacent Pennesseewassee Stream attempting to put the bulbs on.

Then fate intervened.

“It blew over a couple of years ago. Uprooted really,” highway foreman Jim Tibbetts said. He recalled it was 40 to 50 feet tall when it was toppled.

When the tree was removed, several others were planted at the site and the tradition of lighting more than one Christmas tree began.

The site, which has been developed into a park, was dedicated to Butters. He joined the Norway Fire Department in 1947 and was named chief in 1959, the youngest fire chief in New England at the time.

The popular chief, who was known nationally for his dedication to fire prevention, was named Maine’s fire chief of the year in 1994 by the Maine Fire Chiefs Association shortly before he died at the age of 66.

The annual lighting ceremony still attracts hundreds of children and adults. It will begin at 6:15 p.m. when the Norway Fire Department Light Parade will lead Santa and Mrs. Claus down Beal Street. It will take a right at Chalmers Insurance onto Main Street to the Advertiser Block, go left onto Pikes Hill Road, right onto Water Street and stop at Butters Park by the flag pole for the lighting, according to Parks and Recreation Director Debra Partridge.

After children help Santa light the trees, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be escorted to the Norway Fire Station on Danforth Street where children can have their pictures taken with the couple. Refreshments will be provided by the Firemen’s Relief Association.

For more information, contact Partridge at 743-6651 or [email protected].

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