Rockport Woman Donates Christmas Tree To Town 29 Years After Planting It

ROCKPORT (CBS) – It's a classic New England Christmas tree in a classic New England town, but this tree has a little known history nearly 30 years in the making.

They flip the switch at the Rockport tree lighting Saturday. And when that happens, the delighted onlookers may not know the back story.

"I planted it in kindergarten. Over the years I watered it, brushed the snow off it in the winter and took very good care of it," says Molly Johnson.

It has been 29 years since she planted a tiny pine sprig in her Rockport backyard. She got the 12-inch sapling during an Arbor Day field trip.

"It was 47 feet when they cut it down," said Johnson.

She decided to part with the tree after some soul searching.

"I thought it would be a really neat thing to do, to donate it to the town and let everyone enjoy it," she says.

All that is left in her parents' backyard is a stump. The Rockport Department of Public Works took the tree down and then made a slow and harrowing trip with it through the narrow streets.

Now the towering tree is ready for the lighting extravaganza.

"It's awesome, it really is. People are saying, 'Whose tree is that?' 'Oh, it's my tree,'" Johnson said.

"It's old fashioned, beautiful.  Small town America," says one woman walking past the tree.

"That is a traditional tree. If they planted it as a sprig and grew it, that's very traditional and I'm a traditional person," says an out-of-town visitor.

When the carols are sung and the time is right, Johnson will do the lighting honors.

"It's kind of like a timeline of life for me. I planted it when I was five, and now I'm 34. It's kind of neat to see the progression of it. I hope you all enjoy my tree!" Johnson said.

Today, Johnson is still growing and caring for plants. She works as a landscaper and she's thinking about planting another Christmas tree.

The Rockport tree lighting complete with Santa is Saturday at 4 p.m.