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Rehoboth’s sing-along centerpiece has been installed

Harry Caswell team doesn’t break a branch delivering tree to city for first time
The tree being used for Rehoboth Beach’s annual tree lighting and sing-along was installed Nov. 16 near the Bandstand. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
November 16, 2022

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

It was a little windy and brisk, but the tree being used for Rehoboth Beach’s annual tree lighting and sing-along has been installed at the Bandstand.

The hours-long process began early Nov. 16, and by lunchtime, the tree had been ratcheted into place.

This year’s tree, a 20-year-old green giant arborvitae, was donated by Dean and Debbie Smith, who live off Plantation Road outside Rehoboth. The tree is about 25 feet tall and weighed almost exactly one ton.

The installation of this year’s tree marked the first time in the history of the event that the crew from Georgetown-based John L. Briggs & Co. didn’t oversee the process. The responsibility now goes to a team from Harry Caswell, a plumbing and utility company based in Long Neck.

Harry Caswell himself was on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Following the removal, transportation and then installation, Caswell said he was pleased with how things progressed.

“They could have picked anyone to help. It’s an honor to take things over,” said Caswell, adding that he’s known the folks from Briggs for a long time. “Things went pretty smooth. We didn’t even break a branch.”

George W. Plummer & Son and Delmarva Power also contributed in the tree’s installation.

Kicking off the Christmas season in Rehoboth Beach, the annual tree lighting and sing-along is traditionally held on Black Friday, which this year is Friday, Nov. 25. The show is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. For event information, go to cityofrehoboth.com, or contact the communications department at 302-227-6181, Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Harry Caswell employee Billy Talbot gets down on this knees to cut the trunk of the green giant arborvitae.
John L. Briggs & Co. owner Charles “Reds” Dolson III has been a part of the moving process since the event began in the 1980s. While it wasn’t his crew that helped this year, he couldn’t stay away.
Harry Caswell employee Billy Talbot is all smiles after successfully felling the tree.
Debbie and Dean Smith donated the green giant arborvitae. They are shown with the tree on its side before it’s transported to Rehoboth.
According to George W. Plummer & Son crane operator John Burton, the scale was showing 2,000 pounds for the tree.
The Harry Caswell flatbed truck makes its way down Rehoboth Avenue.
With Joey Johnson holding a rope, Harry Caswell directs the Delmarva Power crane operator.
Joey Johnson keeps the tree steady as it’s moved slowly into place.
Delmarva Power’s Ryelan Pavlik slowly picks the tree up off the flatbed.
The tree is secured into place with chains, which means someone has to get them into and then around the trunk. This year, that job went to Delmarva Power’s PJ Huerta.
Delmarva Power’s David Blosveren, left, and Ryelan Pavlik feed the chains into the tree branches.
Delmarva Power’s Jim Smith uses a plumb line to make sure the tree is positioned straight up and down.

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