Archbold Products Adorn Capitol Christmas Tree
by Alicia Buckenmeyer Buckeye Correspondent

Terry Jaggers, Archbold, routs and smooths candy cane ornaments, made by two Archbold manufacturing companies, that now adorn the 60-foot Christmas tree on the front lawn of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.- courtesy photo

It's not every day that employees who generally manufacture trim pieces for buildings make candy canes on the job.

It's also not every day that products from a tiny village like Archbold grace a 60-foot Christmas tree on the front lawn of the United State Capitol building.

However, this year, a welltimed meeting and some quick coordination resulted in exactly those not-every-day things.

Employees at two Archbold manufacturing firms, Fypon, Ltd., and Sauder Woodworking, created 750 candy cane ornaments that joined 2,750 other adornments on the boughs of the 2007 Capitol Christmas tree.

A Chance Opportunity

A Fypon sales manager in the New England states stumbled onto the unique opportunity when meeting in New York with a customer from Vermont, said Kathy Ziprick, Fypon public relations representative.

Conversation turned to Vermont's responsibility of sponsoring and decorating the 2007 Capitol Christmas Tree.

As part of the project, the state had been searching two years for ornaments, and the Fypon representative knew the company's polyvinyl chloride sheets could meet the demand.

"PVC is weather resistant. It's used traditionally on the exterior of buildings," said Ziprick.

"So if it snows, sleets, or hails in D.C., it won't affect this particular product."

The Fypon sales manager notified Ziprick, who phoned Tom Riscili, company president, and said, "This is something we should be doing."

Fypon had to act fast to donate its ornaments; the opportunity arose only one month before the tree had to be ready. "It moved very quickly," said Ziprick.

"We're just thrilled that we were able to turn it on a dime and be able to provide those candy canes."

Just as Vermont organizations pulled together to prepare the tree, Fypon alone couldn't supply the ornaments.

"We worked in concert with Sauder," said Ziprick.

Fypon donated PVC sheets and paid Sauder Woodworking to cut the candy canes from them. Fypon employees finished the canes by routing and smoothing the edges.

"It was a fast-coordinated team effort," said Ziprick.

The ornaments were shipped to Vermont on Nov. 8.

By Nov. 13, the canes arrived, ready to be decorated by Vermont school children. The kids didn't have long. The decorated canes departed with the tree Nov. 19, in a 22-vehicle caravan headed for the Capitol through six states and 12 cities.

Road Trip

Vermont has sponsored five Capitol Christmas trees since the tradition began in 1964. According to the winter issue of Vermont Life, this one will cost the state $125,000.

It seems a small price to pay for the holiday cheer the tree is bringing the nation.

"I know for many of us, this was much more than just a Christmas Tree," said Lee Krohn, a caravan traveler who recorded the experience in an Internet posting known as a blog.

When the tree arrived, it was prepped by the Capitol architect, and then showcased during a Dec. 5 lighting ceremony on the Capitol lawn.

"It was a truly awesome feel- ing to be standing in such of a place of importance and feel as though we were contributing to it, even if in a small way," Krohn wrote after the ceremony.

Big Honor

Fypon was excited to help Vermonters prepare the tree. "It's a pretty big deal," Ziprick said. "There has definitely been a level of excitement for all levels of employees that hear about this."

Making the candy cane ornaments offered employees a change of pace. Plus, Ziprick said, "I think they were also fairly proud that our products would be featured in such a unique way in the capital."

It may have cost Fypon about $4,000 in materials, time, labor, and shipping.

"But it's a priceless opportunity," said Ziprick. "To be part of something very historical."

While Ziprick doesn't foresee Fypon manufacturing Christmas ornaments instead of building trim, she does plan to determine which state will sponsor the 2008 Capitol tree and offer to help again next year.

"It's an honor to be involved in something so worthwhile," she said.