Christmas Tree Shop Hyannis
In August 2024, I went on a five-day trip to Cape Cod, MA where I visited many museums and cultural organizations, along with quick history stops and trails. A last minute diversion brought me to Christmas Tree Shop Hyannis, an incredible example of avant-garde architecture built by a recently defunct company. I last visited Christmas Tree Shop Sagamore while coming home from a trip to Yarmouth in 2023, and I may need to visit the remaining stores.
As mentioned in the last time I touched on this company, the Christmas Tree Shop was founded by Charles and Doreen Bilezikian in 1970, grew as a family-owned company until it was sold to Bed, Bath, & Beyond in 2003, was sold to Handil Holdings in 2020, and was closed in 2023. This Christmas Tree Shop has subsequently become a JOANN Fabric and Crafts, Trader Joe’s, and Starbucks Coffee.
The most exciting part about this Christmas Tree Shop is the working carillon. The one large bell and twenty-four smaller bells in a two octave range played a long tune on the hour and a short chime every fifteen minutes. A small metal sign at the base of the carillon explained that the clockwork was built by Howard Clock Company of Boston, MA between 1910 and 1920, the large bell was cast in 1942, and the small bells were cast in 1989. Another E. Howard and Company Tower Clock is in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, although their model dated from 1880.
I needed to learn more about this carillon, so I went to its information page TowerBells.org, a website that I am sure everyone else uses frequently. The entire system was set up in 1989, the same year that those smaller bells were cast by Bellfoundry Petit & Fritsen, which began business in 1660 and is currently located in Asten, Holland. The antique clockworks at the base are currently for display only, as the installation company Elderhorst Bells, Inc. converted the bells to a Clock-o-Matic system in 2013. Elderhorst is headquartered in Palm, Pennsylvania and has been in business since 1893, while Clock-o-Matic is headquartered in Holsbeek, Belgium and has been in business since 1949. At one time, animated figures danced while the music played, but that has been out of order since at least 2022.
Another delightful aspect for me, and potentially off-putting for architecture purists, was the blend of a Swiss chalet or Bavarian style with a saturated color palette of a red roof, yellow paint, and green trim. Fun features include gabled roofs, gingerbread carvings, balconies, and exposed beams. The closest match in style I have found is the Bavarian Inn of Frankenmuth, which markets itself as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria”. A stained glass window above the doors of the main entrance included a red sleigh, the logo of the Christmas Tree Shop. Looking up, an octagon stained glass window was embedded in the ceiling.
The stop at Christmas Tree Shop Hyannis was definitely a change of pace from other history stops I made during my trip, and this type of exploration is not for everyone. The only historical signage available was the plaque at the carillon, so I had to do most of the research on my own. I had no problems wandering around the half-abandoned building and taking pictures. If you are interested in urban exploration but want to keep your adventures safe and legal, this is a great place to start.
