While the city of Winlock is famous for its claim of having the world’s largest egg, one resident started a new Christmas tradition eight years ago right next to the landmark at Vern Zander Memorial Park.
That resident is Carol Wallin, whose family roots go back for generations in Winlock.
Her Winlock Memorial Tree is back for the holidays.
“This time of the year, everything goes to your heart. You remember those good old days, the town when it was bustling, this person used to run this place, another ran this business, and so it’s really touched a lot of people’s hearts,” Wallin told The Chronicle in a phone interview. “... Through the years, names have been added and people are grateful and appreciative.”
In 2016, she began setting up the Christmas tree in the park with the help of the Winlock Lions Club, which manages the park, hanging ornaments with the names of their neighbors who had died.
“This was, for years and years and years, a very close-knit community. All the names that we have on the tree, there’s very few that I myself do not know the family or had heard of them,” Wallin said.
Originally, a real tree was used. But with the weather occasionally knocking the tree over and the maintenance required for a real tree, a local volunteer carved a four-sided reusable wooden tree, which now serves as the Winlock Memorial Christmas Tree.
The first year the tree went up, it didn’t have very many names on it. But that soon changed once other Winlock residents saw it.
“Everybody that saw it, it happened eight years ago when it started, kept saying, ‘That is such a neat idea.’ And so they would ask to have names put on next year, and it just continued on and on until we're up to more than 450 names now,” Wallin said.
Though there have been some issues with vandalism in recent years, Wallin and her fellow volunteers still continue putting the tree up every Christmas season.
She added putting the tree up this year was possible thanks to her neighbors Sally Vogel, Paul Russel and Travis Wallin, Winlock Lions Club members and other Winlock residents.
“The tree stands proudly once again honoring those who are gone but will never be forgotten,” Wallin said.
While no more names will be added to the Winlock Memorial Christmas Tree this year, Wallin invited other Winlock area residents who want to get someone’s name added next year to contact her at 360-785-3192.
The Winlock Memorial Christmas Tree is set up every holiday season at the Vern Zander Memorial Park, located at the intersection of Fir Street and Highway 603 in Winlock.
