Abrahamson's Trees, 5933 Howard Gnesen Road, is celebrating its 30th year in business this holiday season.
Joe and Carolyn Abrahamson have two tree lots in Duluth -- one at Mt. Royal Shopping Center and the other at K-Mart on Central Entrance -- but offer a more extensive variety of products at the home site on Howard Gnesen.
While trees and garland are for sale at all three sites, at the home site, they also have wreaths, birch snowmen, yule logs, plus North Woods products such as cedar benches, cedar-framed mirrors (octagonal, rectangular and glass etched with dogs or deer are options), coat racks (some with cardinal and others with a moose head design) and glass and wood cutting boards are just some of the items offered.
The Abrahamsons used to go out in the woods with a bow saw, cut down a tree and drag it back to the lot. Today, their sons Brad and Bob, use a chain saw with Joe and Carolyn overseeing what they are doing. "People don't know what is involved," Carolyn said. "It's a lot of hard work."
She said they have many repeat customers from year to year. "Our customers want the big trees,' she said, "and our prices are very reasonable."
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The trees range in size from 5 feet up to 20, and they have both balsam and long-needled pine. Abrahamson's is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week through Friday, Dec. 23, although Carolyn remembers one year when she sold 10 trees to one person on Christmas Day. The customer needed them for a wedding.
Abrahamson's is located nine miles north of the Kenwood Shopping Center on Howard Gnesen Road. Joe put up a railroad crossing light next to their driveway entrance even though there is no track, and it has become a landmark to guide tree shoppers. For more information, call 721-3361.
