By Emily Williams
For the past 60 years, local Boy Scouts of Troop 4 have sold holiday cheer and raised funds for their troops through an annual tree sale in Vestavia Hills.
Headquartered at Scout Square on U.S. 31 in Vestavia Hills, the Mountain Scout Tree Sale has grown to include two more locations and benefits 11 Over the Mountain scout troops.
“I believe the Hoover lot, which is currently located at Target at Interstate 459 and (Alabama) Highway 150, was added back in the ‘90s. The Homewood lot, located at Shades Cahaba Elementary and previously operated by the Optimist Club, was added in 2015,” said Mark McColl, tree sale treasurer. “We currently sell over 4,700 trees at the three locations.”
Visiting the lot to pick out a tree is a holiday tradition for many community members. “We try to have an atmosphere (music, complimentary hot chocolate and candy canes) that fosters the creation of great family memories of coming to the lot to buy their tree,” McColl said.
The fundraiser was created in 1959 by Troop 4 of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church founding Scoutmaster Jimmy W. Coleman Sr., an electrical engineer, to sustain the troop while the two oldest of his three sons worked toward the Eagle Scout rank.
Coleman’s own backyard on Mountain View Drive in Vestavia Hills was the first site of the tree sale. He traveled to wholesale grocers, farmers markets and other sites to obtain the trees and had them delivered to the house.
According to a 2004 interview with Coleman’s wife, compiled by then tree sale Chairman Loring S. Jones III, the sale was so popular that she could hardly take a bath at night between serving all of the customers. By 1960, the sale was moved to a lot on US. 31 and jumped around the various locations before the city of Vestavia Hills approved the lot now known as Scout Square.
Each year, the massive undertaking requires 11,000 hours of work, voluntarily accomplished by Scouts and their parents. McColl noted that the hard work serves as a way for Boy Scouts to learn the value of a good work ethic, salesmanship and community relations, among other skills.
Funds raised in the first five years helped Troop 4 buy canoes, a trailer, tents, gear and even a used blue school bus, Vestavia Hills UMC’s first vehicle. They continue to support the purchase of uniforms and equipment for participating troops.
Now, in addition to Troop 4, the funds pay for uniforms and equipment for Troop 1, Southminster Presbyterian Church; Troop 23, Discovery United Methodist Church; Troop 79, All Saints Episcopal; Troop 93, Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian Church; Troop 95, Shades Valley Lutheran Church; Troop 96, Cahaba Heights United Methodist Church; Troop 226, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church; Troop 237, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church; Troop 320, Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church; and Troop 367, Riverchase United Methodist Church.
“A few other troops that aren’t officially part of the sale also benefit by working some unfilled shifts,” McColl said.
The tree lots will be selling trees, garlands and wreaths until Dec. 22. Sale hours at the Hoover and Homewood lots are 12:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. every day. The Vestavia lot is open Sunday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The tree lots will be selling trees, garlands and wreaths until Dec. 22. Sale hours at the Hoover and Homewood lots are 12:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. every day. The Vestavia lot is open Sunday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, visit scouttreesale.com or call 205-538-1498.
