A replica of the Lazarus Tree is coming to the Columbus Library this year

If you’ve above a certain age and are from Columbus, chances are you’re familiar with the Lazarus department store holiday tree. 

An annual occurrence at the store in the 80s and 90s, the tree served as a unique twist on the mall Santa. A very unique one, as posters on the R/Columbus subreddit recall the tree’s unique appearance and behavior, including it licking kids to “tell you what you tasted like.”

Now, one of Columbus’ most original bygone traditions is coming to the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

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Local special effects and mask artist Todd Reed–following a friendship with the of the tree’s creator, Gordon Keith–received the remains of the original tree, and recreated it using a mold. He featured this in his own holiday display last year, and later this month, it should be available for the public to see at the Library’s main branch.

Reed, who remembers the tree fondly from his own youth, said he approached the library about using his recreation as a way to pay his respects to Keith.

“My only requirement was that they help me represent the original artist,” Reed said. “We really wanted it to be a public space where anybody could have free access to it.”

According to Ben Zenitsky, a media specialist at Columbus Metropolitan Library, the Library plans to have the display up in the historical section of its Main Branch by Nov. 20, when its holiday open house kicks off.

“We’re excited, this is something new for us that will bring a lot of memories,” Zenitsky said.

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