Boy Scout Troop 52 celebrates 52 years of selling Christmas Trees

The Boy Scouts of Troop 52 here in Front Royal are celebrating 52 years of providing a great start to the holiday season with their continued annual tradition of selling Christmas trees to the local community and to other holiday tree hunters from farther regions who come back each year to pick out their perfect, freshly cut, truly awesome Christmas tree!

Boy Scout Troop 52 has now been selling fabulous Christmas trees since December 1968. This is their main fundraiser each year and all profits go into the Troop operating account to cover costs of awards, programs, and events in the upcoming year. Donations each year provide the scouts with summer camp opportunities, advancement and merit badges, equipment, and uniforms for those that need assistance, activities each month as well as youth training programs with the local council. Troop 52 Scouts have enjoyed many camping trips to some fantastic places such as Gettysburg (with a side trip to Hershey Park), Virginia Beach with activities such as the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Ocean Breeze Waterpark, Adventure Park with zip line and ropes course. Also, great hiking and seasonal trips for snow tubing. Scouts earn merit badges for cooking and other skills during these trips as they advance to each rank.

As noted by the troop’s go-to historian, “Hoss” Feldhauser, it has been estimated that the Troop has sold over 16,000 trees over the past 52 years and many of the Scouts have learned the basics of salesmanship, marketing, and commercial forestry through the Troop’s Christmas tree sales program. Many have also earned their merit badges for learning those skills.

The selling of Christmas trees by Troop 52 was introduced to the community of Front Royal in December 1968 by then Scoutmaster Ken Bovard and Assistant Scoutmaster Ken Fortune. During that first year, the Scouts purchased trees from a farm in Bentonville, then branched out to purchase more from the Rudacille Farm. In the following 20 years, Troop 52 purchased trees from varying tree farms throughout Virginia and Pennsylvania. In 1979 Dr. Craig Zunka, a long-time member and Eagle Scout of the troop, agreed that the troop could plant trees on his farm in Browntown. Dr. Zunka oversees the Scouts as they learn the skills on how to properly plant, trim, weed, and care for each of the different types of trees. Depending on the variety of trees as well as weather conditions, it may take anywhere from 6 to as many as 12 years before the tree is ready for sale.

Troop 52’s first tree sales were held on the “Weaver lot” across from the old Front Royal Volunteer Fire Station that was beside what was then our town hall. Peyton Street now runs through where the Troop’s lot was in those early years. It was just after the 1969 Christmas tree sales that Bill Ollinger, manager of the Safeway store in the Royal Plaza shopping center, invited the troop to set-up the 1970 tree lot next to his grocery store and Troop 52 has been selling Christmas trees for the last 50 years somewhere on the property, most notably in the past 10 or so years at the entrance lawn area where the current Rural King store and other businesses are located. Troop 52 has enjoyed and deeply appreciated the support from the merchants in the shopping center that they have received for all those years!

Today, local residents recognize the red and green shed standing in the front greenway entrance towards Rural King as a holiday tradition. Troop members are always excited and happy to see many of the same faces each year and welcoming in new Christmas tree hunters as they search for their perfect tree. The Scouts work hard to make sure that each person, family, or even business persons coming onto the lot finds that perfect tree for their home, office, or client. The Scouts are out there no matter what the weather to make sure no one is missed during lot hours and to be of service to all.

So with the Christmas season upon us, Boy Scout Troop 52, sponsored by the Front Royal United Methodist Church, would like to invite the community to visit their annual Christmas tree sales fundraiser being held at the Royal Plaza Shopping Center. Your generosity each year helps make it possible for these local youth to learn important life skills, attend summer camp, and grow as leaders. The Troop will be offering a variety of trees while supplies last through December 19, so stop by today. Hours are 4-8 weekdays, 8-8 on Saturdays, and 12-8 on Sundays. Youth and parents interested in the Scouting Program are also welcomed.

Merry Christmas from Troop 52!