Returning to its roots: Rockefeller Christmas Tree comes back to Binghamton to help a family in need

It was a magical moment - like something out of a Christmas movie - for Jackie McGinley and the local community. An 80-foot, 80-year-old Norway Spruce that once stood tall at her Vestal home had become the most famous Christmas tree in the world-the official 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree!

McGinley, an assistant professor of social work, and her family followed the tree down to New York City, where they were treated to a dinner overlooking Rockefeller Center, before attending the lighting ceremony and pressing a button to bring the more than 50,000 lights attached to life. Her starstruck daughters even got to meet Kelly Clarkson.

"It still feels a little bit surreal. You sort of question, 'Did that really happen?'" said McGinley.

But the iconic tree isn't merely a symbol of goodwill. It's now a physical embodiment of the season's spirit of giving and charity. Having brought joy to millions, the tree will now bring joy to a local family in need.

Construction continues at the Habitat for Humanity home on West Street in Johnson City. The house is a shell, but will later include panel shelving made out of the lumber milled from the Rockefeller tree. Image Credit: Bella Seastrand. Every year since 2007, Tishman Speyer, the owner and manager of Rockefeller Center, has donated the iconic Christmas tree to Habitat for Humanity (HFH), a nonprofit that builds homes for families of low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. Thanks to a new initiative, Rockefeller trees now return to their community of origin, and the tree once owned by McGinley has been milled to provide lumber for a home just over the river in Johnson City.

"That felt so meaningful to us, that the tree would get to come back here to the community that felt so invigorated, enlivened…" said McGinley. "People were so proud that the tree came from their backyard, from their hometown. And so we were really excited to see that come back here and to continue that tradition."

This summer, Lateisha Judge, executive director of Broome County HFH, received word that the tree would be returning to the local area - and she squealed in joy. Judge had seen countless Rockefeller trees over the years, but at the time of the call (which she initially thought was a prank!), she didn't know about the collaboration with the Rockefeller Center.

"That fact in and of itself is really cool. Because that home, wherever it's used, is going to have a piece of history. It's really symbolic to know that we were going to be able to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and partake in this symbolic gifting," said Judge. "And then I thought it was really beautiful, the whole initiative to return the tree to its roots, trying to make it whole again."

The wood, a soft spruce, isn't framing-grade and can't be used structurally. Instead, it will be used to build pantry shelving and other necessary shelving at a house on West Street in Johnson City. HFH crew are working diligently to get the building "weather-tight" (i.e. externally framed and roofed) before winter weather hits hard. A partner family, yet to be selected, will move in next year.

Some of the wood was milled and used to build shelves for Habit's on-site warehouse. In addition, a volunteer at the HFH office used a small piece of the available lumber to create a sculpture for McGinley and her family.

This sculpture, created by an anonymous volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, is made out of wood from the actual Rockefeller Center tree. Image Credit: Habitat for Humanity.

"It was really exciting, and it was incredibly generous that the volunteer made the item for us, but we were more excited that this gave us another chance to champion an organization in our community that is doing so much good," said McGinley. "The story is not about us; it's not about where we are. It's really about where the wood is and what good it's doing in our community."

And McGinley did some gift-giving of her own. She is still in touch with Erik Pauze, the head gardener for the Rockefeller Center who picked her tree, and he kept her posted on which lucky family's tree had been selected this year.

"We were also able to send an ornament that we had made from our tree, and a card that actually had the artwork that one of our local community members made on the front of it with the tree depicted to the next family, and just welcome them to this large, totally magical, entirely unexpected group of people that have this shared experience," said McGinley. "And that's been very exciting to be able to welcome the next family into that fold."

The McGinley family poses in front of the tree after workers removed it from their side yard. Image Credit: Matt Ebbers. While snow falls outside their window this holiday season, the McGinleys will have something new to enjoy. Pauze returned this spring with a crew to ground out the tree stump, re-level the grass, lay new soil - and deliver a gift to the family, courtesy of the Rockefeller Center.

"They planted a number of trees that are 20-feet tall," said McGinley. "Absolutely gorgeous, and a splurge that we would have never indulged ourselves."

The McGinley's holiday season will be slightly toned down from their 2023 adventures but no less fulfilling. The family is back to their regular traditions, spending the holiday at home with family and friends. McGinley likes getting messages and texts about the Rockefeller tree from time to time - but she's happy to "fade back into the background" this year and let new families enjoy the limelight.

"It's a joy when we hear a detail about it and we get to remember our experience, but it was never about us," said McGinley. "It doesn't feel like something we're hyper-focused on, because it's really always just about the community and the people who get to enjoy it."

As for Judge, she's happy that the tree has helped put Binghamton more on the map - and served a greater purpose.

"It's full circle," said Judge. "It already served its purpose; it grew here. Then it provided the joy of the holiday season to millions of people in the city, and then it comes back to us to provide a family a chance at having a home. I love that."

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