Festooned with the usual blinking lights and a red bow as a topper, it’s hard to believe this Christmas tree could be the source of so much discussion.

But, apparently, people in Lawrence — or at least those who frequent the Lawrence Journal-World’s online message boards — couldn’t stop talking about it.

The Christmas tree at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass., has been moved from the second floor to the first floor because an employee is allergic to pine trees. The tree's initial absence from the first floor drew speculation on the Journal-World Reader Reaction board about the county's intent to decorate for the holidays.

For several days, people speculated as to why no tree was standing in the rotunda of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass. It got to the point that County Administrator Craig Weinaug felt the need to address the questions and theories. He answered the questions about the lack of a tree in an online post Tuesday.

“The tree has been there. It was just on the second floor,” Weinaug said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Weinaug is in Maryland with other Lawrence and Douglas County officials for emergency crisis management training.

“Most of the decorations have been there since Thanksgiving,” he said.

In any event, county commissioners have never commented on whether the building should or should not be decorated for the holidays, he said.

The tree now is on the first floor next to a permanent directory of county offices and their locations.

Pam Madl, director of administrative services for the county, said staff members moved the live pine tree from the second floor because an employee was allergic to it.

Reader Reaction: Christmas Tree in the Douglas County Courthouse Reader Reaction: No Christmas Tree in Douglas County Court House

Online, it was accepted as fact there was no tree, and reasons given ranged from political correctness to lack of space. Some posters even blamed it on specific county officials.

Weinaug said he was surprised by how much discussion people were having about the lack of tree in the courthouse — especially when there was one.

“It was just so strange,” he said.