A holiday tradition ends at N. Andover firehouse
Every December for the past half-century, firefighters hung a wooden sign outside their North Andover station that wishes passersby a “Merry Christmas.’’ But this holiday, town officials have banished the green-and-white sign, the fire chief said.
“I’ve always loved the sign, but I don’t own this building,’’ Chief William Martineau said yesterday.
The town manager did not return a call seeking comment yesterday on the decision.
Martineau said it appeared to stem from a holiday request last month, when a local rabbi asked the town for permission to display a menorah on the Town Common for the eight days of Hanukkah. The board approved the display for only one day, said Martineau.
Regulations for use of the Town Common passed on Sept. 8 state: “Public displays of art, banners, signs, symbols, etc., shall be limited to one day only.’’
The rabbi then threatened to sue the town, a step that Martineau believes prompted officials to pull the fire station’s Christmas greeting.
“When you’re being threatened with a lawsuit, you have to look at the whole town,’’ he said.
Selectwoman Rosemary Smedile said last night that there had been an unwritten policy for several years limiting such displays on the common to one day.
“We pride ourselves in being open,’’ Smedile said. “We’re disappointed that this policy has been misinterpreted as one that is unfair for all groups. We believe in the freedom of speech and the traditional use of the Town Common in New England.’’
Rabbi Robert Goldstein, who leads a synagogue in neighboring Andover, said he does not understand the town’s decision to ban the 4-foot-by-2-foot sign.
“Putting up a Merry Christmas sign is not a religious observance,’’ he said. “There is a total lack of reason. When people discuss the issue of Christmas or Hanukkah during the month of December, wisdom, good judgment, and generosity of spirit are nowhere to be found.’’
In an e-mail to Tracy Watson, chairwoman of North Andover’s Board of Selectmen, he said: “May I humbly suggest you back off banning the Merry Christmas sign from the firehouse and stay with your decision allowing various religious groups to hold observances for one night on the town green.’’
Smedile said it was the town manager’s decision to remove the sign, not the board’s.
Globe correspondent Stewart Bishop contributed to this report. 
