CHRISTMAS TREE HOUSE FOR SALE: WILL THE TRADITION CONTINUE?

If you're a fan of the Christmas Tree House, also known as 635 Prospect St., just off The Crescent, you have likely seen the big news.

The house is for sale.

But for many, the big deal is not whether it will sell for the $1.3 million asking price or if the new owners will be good neighbors, or even if they will keep the hedges trimmed.

Will they continue to light the huge tree in the front corner of their lawn every Christmas?

For 15 years, The Burns Family, who is selling the six-bedroom, five-bath home, have given residents a treat by decorating the large tree, often hiring a tree crew to position the lights with a cherry-picker.

"Ever since we first purchased our home in 1995, I had always wanted to decorate the corner tree," said Steven Burns, 55, who lives there with his wife, Milvia. "It seemed a very fitting way to celebrate the season within our family and share it with our wonderful community."

He said the tree was too small in the early years, but by 2000 had taken shape enough to decorate.

"What we never imagined was the affection the lit tree gave so many people in Maplewood and surrounding communities," Burns said. "From the heartwarming stories and thankful comments online about children and families, the cards both neighbors and strangers would slip in our door, to even a nice woman from East Orange who sends along a box of chocolates each year as a thank you present."

Burns declined to say how much it costs to hire a tree service to place lights up via a crane and cover the electrical costs. But he did note, "it's pretty involved. The first year I had an outlet put in on the outside of the house, I thought I was well-prepared. They said it needed an entire box, an electrical panel that is used only for the tree."

He said it takes about two days to put the lights up and a full day to remove them. Asked why they are moving, Burns said his five children are grown and out of the house and it is just more than they need. 

"We love Maplewood and the people in the community and believe that the best outcome will come forward that either the nice tradition will continue or that it can be a reminder to ourselves that change can be good," Burns said. "We only hope that the next owners find as much love, laughter and memories in the home as our family has been blessed to have over the last 20 years. Maplewood has many wonderful traditions to celebrate."

Hopefully this one will continue.