It’s the end of a Christmas tree legacy in Kawartha Lakes.

Michael Cayley’s parents, Paul and Kathleen, started building a house in 1967, a centennial project. It was completed in 1968, known as 1899 Little Britain Road. It has been a Cayley residency ever since. However, last year was the last time the tree was lit up under the Cayley name.

On its front lawn is an outdoor Christmas tree. It used to be about six or seven feet tall when Michael was a little kid. Some of his earliest memories involved standing on a stool and lifting the lights to its highest point with a hockey stick. Five decades later, the tree now stands at 50 feet. To decorate it, the late Hugh Snoddon and his son, Jeff, from Hub International had to come with their lift, and even at the lift’s highest, a 20-foot extension pole was needed to get the lights to the peak. The Snoddon’s have brought their lift to help decorate every year since 1997.

Michael calls it a famous local beacon of the season.

This giant Christmas tree is so popular, that according to Michael, “we typically get several cards and dozens of phone calls and comments, sometimes from strangers, about how the tree has become part of the community’s fond Christmas memories. For folks from the city, it is the sight they see on their way in from Toronto that says, ‘welcome home for Christmas.’”

Decorating the tree requires many helpers, from lift drivers and driver directors and bulb checkers to those who can do small repairs on the fly. Once the tree’s complete, the party commences, with dinner, some fiddle playing, and everyone gathering outside around the tree to sing “Oh Christmas Tree!”

Michael and his sister Paula eventually moved out of the house, and Kathleen passed away from lung cancer in 2009. They ended up breaking off the top 10 feet of the tree and brought a bit of it into her bedside at the hospital.

Now Paul is the only one living at 1899 Little Britain Road, and is now preparing to move into a retirement home as he recently celebrated his 91st birthday.

“Dad wants to thank everyone who has volunteered to help decorate the tree over the years and anyone who has ever appreciated it,” Michael told the Advocate.

This year the tree is sadly not decorated, he says. “It’s been pretty tough coming home this year,” said Paula, who has moved to B.C. “There wasn’t that beacon of light I’m used to.”

When describing fond memories of the tree and festivities, Paula recalled how the tree got bigger and the work to make it all happen increased. Her dad would check every single light strand and her mom would be preparing or ordering food as the neighbours and friends came for the parties.

Paul says she's hoping the next owners will keep the tradition going. Whoever moves in will have the lights as a bonus. 

“It would be very satisfying for us,” said Paula, “if they were to do that.”

Names the family would like to commemorate for their help and love over the years include John Walden (who passed away and was one of Paull’s best friends and neighbours his whole life), Russell Bergin, Elvin and Doreen Taylor, the Snoddon’s, Paul’s brother-in-law Bill Connolly, and Paul’s brother Dan Cayley.