Grandfather organizes Christmas ornament exchange in Allen Park

Ed Wickenheiser hopes others will participate in the exchange

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – It’s a holiday display everyone can take part in, an ornament exchange Christmas tree in the front yard of an Allen Park home.

Ed Wickenheiser put up the tree in his front yard on Gooddard Road near Becker Avenue on Thursday (Dec. 14).

“You know they have those book exchanges, so I thought you know why not an ornament exchange,” said Wickenheiser.

Next to the tree, he put up a sign that reads “Ornament exchange.”

The idea was simple: take an ornament and leave an ornament in its place.

Wickenheiser, 83, decided to do something new this year after losing his wife of 60 years. He says she was the one who did all the holiday decorating.

“I think she’d love it,” Wickenheiser said when asked what his late wife would think of the tree.

Wickenheiser hopes others enjoy it too and is eager to see if people will participate in the exchange.

“It’s just an experiment,” Wickenheiser said. “As long as they don’t take the tree, everything will be fine.”


About the Author

Jacqueline Francis is an award-winning journalist who joined the WDIV team in September 2022. Prior to Local 4, she reported for the NBC affiliate in West Michigan. When she’s not on the job, Jacqueline enjoys taking advantage of all the wonders Michigan has to offer, from ski trips up north to beach days with her dog, Ace.

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