Local Man Donates 30 foot Tree for Annual Congress Hall Holiday Celebration

Congress Hall’s Christmas tree is a time honored Cape May tradition. This year’s tree was donated by Mr. John Gerolstein, a local resident of Cape May. Workers cut down the 30-foot Blue Spruce Evergreen on Monday, November 19th and then transported it the short distance to Congress Hall.  The tree is now up on the Grand Lawn in all its’ splendor. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place Friday, November 30th. According to Mr. Gerolstein, the evergreen became known to family and neighbors as the “picture tree” because each year the family would decorate it and take their holiday photos in front of it. Those photos are now some of the Gerolstein family’s most treasured.  Mr. Gerolstein estimates the tree to be about 30 years old, although he and his family moved into the house about 18 years ago.  Mr. Gerolstein decided to donate the tree because it has become too big for the yard.  The Gerolstein family spent many holiday seasons in Cape May, and are now happy to contribute to Congress Hall’s annual celebration so other families can enjoy taking photos and creating memories with the “picture tree.”

At left: John Gerolstein, Heidi Belnay (Gerolstein), and Garrett Belnay in front of the “picture tree.”