Fantastic Holiday Season at GFC 2024-25 Annual Festival of Trees this past holiday season!

Two hundred years ago, William C Goodridge opened his first business in York. After years of unpaid labor as an indentured servant, his barber shop on the NW corner

of the city was a remarkable achievement. We honor William Goodridge, the businessman, as the theme of our annual Festival of Trees celebration.

 

Our dedicated Festival of Trees volunteers are well-versed in the many accomplishments of the Goodridge family. Using the goods and services offered in the Goodridge businesses as a springboard, they crafted ornaments and trees that fit the theme.

 

 

The results are spectacular. Several trees pay tribute to the Black barbers who often had a double life as community activists. Other trees highlight William’s wife, Evalina, who influenced the sale of jewelry from their Center Square emporium. The Goodridge Freedom Center is fortunate to have dedicated stewards of the Festival of Trees celebration. This is the 9th season we have hosted this York tradition and many of the initial volunteers return every year to help. We would like to thank our volunteers for their many years of service.

 

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Thank you, Rev. Stephany Sechrist, Susan Liebegott, Carol Kauffman, Deb Eberly, Shari Flory, Lori Rene, Lauren Thiesen, Andrea Ryder from Explore York, Mark and Debbie DeBowes, Sue Wyar, Heather McCaffrey, Beth Gross, Lettie Jackson, Julie Beard, Marcia Flinchbaugh, Jane Heidelbaugh, Barbara Graver, Milton Leake, Judy Bono, The Garden Club of York and many others past and present.