Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Director Duane Goud spent the better part of Friday morning, Dec. 2 over the town common. He and Bob MacDonald were using the fire department’s ladder truck – its ladder fully extended or nearly so to string holiday lights.

The work was in preparation for the Sunday, Dec. 4 annual tree lighting held to ring in the holiday season. The pair put their extensive fire department training to use. Adding a star to the top of the towering spruce required a long, careful climb. Fortunately, it was a perfect morning weatherwise, sunny without a breeze but chilly in keeping with the season.

Goud had put his carpentry skills to use making the wooden frame for the star which he and MacDonald then carefully wrapped with lights. The tricky part was getting it attached to the top of the tree, which Goud accomplished. Seeing him working high off the ground was quite a sight. Motorists driving past on Main Street slowed to get a look. Some drivers got into the spirit by waving, or honking their horns.

MacDonald who was operating the fire truck said it was gratifying to see how tall the northern spruce tree had grown. “I can remember very clearly when we first planted it,” he said. It was dedicated in memory of Gordon Huber, Clark “Woody” Freeman and Al Gagnon.

Huber, a former Wiscasset selectman, was the owner of Huber’s Market, a small grocery store on Route 1 where Dollar General is now. Freeman was a former Wiscasset road commissioner, town mechanic and supervisor of the transfer station. Gagnon was the longtime owner of Red’s Eats, a landmark and Wiscasset destination. All three men were community spirited and well liked.