Every year at the Country Store, when children made a bee-line for the narrow wooden stairs to the top of Lynnfield’s Meeting House, it was for one of two reasons: a photo with Santa or the chance to win a prize at Colby Properties’ North Pole Fishing Hole. At a dollar per cast, prizes were small and decidedly low, or more accurately no-tech, including things like holiday hats, little toys, games, stuffed animals, sparkly jewelry. But for the children, it was the excitement of using a homemade fishing rod, a dowel with string and a paperclip hook, to catch an unknown package by its pink, blue, or white ribbon that got their hearts beating. The thrill of hooking a big one and the ensuing cheering and bell ringing brought kids back again and again.
The North Pole Fishing Hole was brought to the Country Store by Karen Colby, co-owner of Colby Properties, as a fundraiser to support the preservation of the Old Meeting House more than a decade ago. It was and still is a Colby family holiday tradition at their homes that was initiated by Nancy Colby (Karen’s mother and partner), who remembered a similar game played at a carnival when she was a child. It was a three-generation family effort at the Country Store. Karen Colby, Nancy Colby, Nancy’s sister Shirley, who helped out most often with the wrapping and purchasing of more than 200 prizes annually, and Nancy’s daughter Alison, who was the group photographer and manned the cash box during breaks. The youngest generation, granddaughters Logan and Sloan Colby Nunziato, started working the fishing booth when they were in middle school and recruited and managed other students in the process. As they grew older they earned their real estate licenses and became part of Colby Properties Real Estate beyond the fishing event. They ensured a consistency with the game that the children expected and wanted. Karen’s husband, John Nunziato, did a lot of heavy lifting, set up, and breakdown but during the event, he was downstairs selling cheese and didn’t get to see the impact the game had on the children.
Enchanted fishermen became team members as the years passed. The Girl Scouts, cheerleaders, and honor societies all earned community-service credit by helping out. Molly Smedira was a regular feature at the event and became a team leader for additional fundraising efforts, managing candy and ornament-decorating tables. Wherever she was needed, she helped out.
“We want to thank every volunteer who participated over the years. You made this possible and shared the heart and spirit of the holidays with all of us. I think perhaps the most touching story we heard was from a mom who took her family for a Disney vacation that they cut short because their son pleaded with them to return early so he wouldn’t miss fishing. That something so simple and small could have that kind of impact was heartwarming for us,” Karen recalled.
Some children planned all their gift-giving by bringing their birthday and allowance money, then fishing over and over again, and matching the prizes with family members. Nancy very occasionally offered a do-over if a child was disappointed with their gift, although that was against the rules; fishing is a luck-of-the-draw type of game.
“For my mother it was all about the kids and seeing them happy and excited. When she first saw the fishing game at a carnival she and her sister were about 5-6 years old, and so didn’t have any money with them and couldn’t play. She wanted to keep the price low enough that no child would experience that disappointment,” Colby said.
Nancy passed away last year and after more than 12 years developing the North Pole Fishing Hole, Colby Properties has decided to pass the rod and game to the next generation.
“We were thrilled to learn that the amazing Connor’s Kindness Project will be manning the North Pole Fishing Hole in 2023 and thereby keeping the tradition of delighting children alive while supporting a worthy cause. We couldn’t ask for a team more devoted to giving than Connor’s Kindness Project, which will also carry on the tradition of a team led by Connor and supported by his grandmother, family, and friends. Our family looks forward to watching the fishing game evolve as Connor’s Kindness adds its own spin on the Fishing Hole and builds new memories for children,” Karen said.
