America's Original Crab Pot Christmas Tree! Created and patented by coastal North Carolina crab trap maker Nicky Harvey and initially made Down East by hard-working local fishing family members in Davis, NC. Back in the day, Harvey and Sons in Davis, NC looked like a typical supplier to the commercial fishing industry, with stacks of brightly colored crab traps (locally termed "crab pots") a major product. The variable nature of the fisheries, and a desire to keep the family business growing, as a legacy for his sons, Nicky Harvey looked for other products. His fertile mind played with ideas of what could be done with left-over materials, and he experimented with making miniature crab traps for coastal decor. Then he began experimenting with triangles of the coated wire mesh, and the Core Sound Christmas tree was born. The unique artificial tree was an immediate hit with friends and neighbors, who loved seeing the traditional material put to a new use. But Nicky's brain just didn't quit there... he experimented until he found a way to string lights on the tree so that the product could be folded flat to 5% of its open position and then opened for display with the light strings remaining in place. U.S. Patent #6773134 was granted in 2004.
Built from durable, weatherproof PVC coated Crab Trap Wire, the tree fits in well with either nautical or traditional holiday decor. It is the ONLY Christmas Tree you'll find that displays beautifully, withstands the weather, and can be set up, lighted and folded flat for easy storage in minutes. Is it any wonder that during the Christmas season, these crab pot trees sprout like mushrooms in coastal yards.
The trees have been taking on lives of their own, however, far beyond Christmas.In the wake of 9-11, Harvey and Sons showed their patriot spirit with the Freedom Tree. That was just the beginning, however, as folks near and far found more creative ways to use their Crab Pot Trees as artificial trees for ALL seasons. In 2009, Nicky Harvey negotiated a national manufacturing and distribution agreement with Fisherman Creations, Inc., who now operates just a few miles down the road from him in Smyrna, NC. Don Acree, owner of Fisherman Creations, and his skilled artisans make and sell more than 10,000 trees each year, and they are shipped throughout America and overseas. From the 1½-foot to the 8-foot tree, there is a size for all. They can be enjoyed as is, or easily decorated with your favorite theme (or college colors), displayed seasonally on your deck, and used indoors or outdoors since their special coating prevents rusting. A couple of years ago, I found myself in the brightly lit factory filled with a click click clicking sound.. Multiple stations for each size tree were spaced about the room, where each person was crafting a tree with simple tools and duct tape-covered fingers. The clicking sound it turns out comes from specially made jigs as they spun around during the tree making process
And, the duct taped fingertips? As it turns out, the wiring, although coated with a weatherproof PVC material, is harsh on them, so the artisans devised their own protective coverings. While some make their fingertip “gloves” each day, others make and use them for a week at the time. Everyone takes such pride in their work, proud of the fact that there are no factory robots used in making the trees. Just a small group of tree elves, with numb and tingling fingers, making them from Labor Day right up to Christmas each year.
Numerous vendors carry the crab pot tree, but the original can still be found in Down East on Core Sound. Where is Down East? Where is the Core Sound? Well, Down East is the eastern portion of Carteret County, east of Beaufort. Simply hop on Highway 70 and head...EAST. As for Core Sound, well, it is the body of water east of Down East. Think "Outer Banks" then go south! Down East is an area rich with history and a heritage tied closely to the water. Fishing, crabbing, shrimping, oystering, hunting waterfowl, and carving decoys are traditions that go back centuries. Today, you can still see nets drying and being repaired on many a lawn and boats -- work boats, commercial boats, shallow skimmers -- dotting the landscape. To be sure, making a living in this hardscrabble area can be a struggle. Sometimes the crabbing is good. Sometimes it's not, but there is always the hope for a good season.
To learn more about America’s original crab pot Christmas tree or holiday events along the Crystal Coast, go to my website, www.EmeraldIsleHomesforSaleNC.com and sign up for my blog. Ready to buy or sell? Call me at 919-308-2292. Explore the video tab for my weekly uploads to my YouTube channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and receive free donuts at my Flip Flops Donut shop. Text your email address to 919-308-2292 and subscribe to my newsletter. My book, "Live Where You Vacation" is available on Amazon.com.
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