Ben Hurd, who along with his namesake Christmas tree farm was an integral part of cherished holiday memories for generations of local families, has died. He was 93.
According to an announcement on the farm’s Facebook page, Hurd passed away peacefully on the morning of June 12.
“He was determined to stay in his home until the end and he did!” the post says. “He will be missed.”
Hurd retired from the California Highway Patrol in 1985 after serving the Humboldt area as an officer for more than 20 years but continued to be actively involved in the law enforcement community until the end of his life, according to social media posts by the agency.
In 1978, he opened up his bucolic Arcata property as Ben Hurd’s Christmas Tree Farm, creating an experience that went far beyond just an opportunity to seek out and cut down the perfect evergreen.
From tractor hayrides and posing for pictures by the giant wooden candy cane to taking turns on the tire swing or just watching the constant hum of hummingbirds flittering at an array of feeders hanging from the expansive porch that overlooks the sprawling site while sipping hot cider, a visit to Hurd’s tree farm was a long-held holiday tradition for many.
Along with a cadre of “elves,” Hurd welcomed untold thousands over the decades, making each one — whether new or returning — feel like family, often regaling them with stories and a look through his many photo albums as sounds from a player piano provided a musical backdrop.
The announcement of Hurd’s death prompted an outpouring of condolences from people near and far who shared their favorite memories and adoration for the man who left his mark in ways large and small.
“He will be missed. I have cherished his stories, his Xmas tree farm, and his company over the years. Christmas honestly won’t be the same without him,” one wrote.
“A beautiful member of our community,” another said. “So thankful for the time and love he poured out to all of us.”
“He was one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I always enjoyed sitting around the fire chatting away. I loved hearing his stories. He was such a lovely man. May he rest in peace. His memory will live on in all of us that shared the tradition of cutting our tree and spending time at Ben’s farm. Thank you for the memories, Ben,” wrote another.
In a video posted on the farm’s Facebook page in December, Hurd encourages visitors to come by for cookies — chocolate chip or snickerdoodle (or one of each) — and cider, explaining how all trees on the farm were the same price no matter how small or how tall, and inviting them to stay for awhile.
“You get to sit here and swap stories with your friends,” Hurd says while sitting in a rocking chair on the large deck complete with a wood stove and porch swing that served as a gathering spot to enjoy the treats served out the window from his home’s kitchen after the completion of a successful tree search. “And, I’m sure, if you don’t have friends now, you will when you leave.”
This article appears in Wide Open.