The Historical Society of Cecil County

Preserving Cecil County's History

The Travelers’ Christmas Tree

One tradition for kicking off the Christmas Season in Cecil County is the annual lighting of the “Holly Tree by-the-tracks.” The Baltimore & Ohio held the first public ceremony in 1948 and for many years the company dispatched a special train from Mount Royal Station to Jackson for the occasion. The Society has an old 33 1/3 long playing record that captures the magic of the 1954 lighting ceremony, including carols by the B & O Glee Club and the B & O Women’s Music Choir. That old vinyl, a lost sound from over a half-century ago, has sat silently on a shelf, but we recently digitized the audio.

Hit the Loop all to start program

For a smaller flash file click here