For the kids

It’s a stretch of road that doesn’t see much traffic.

But if you take an evening trip west of Indiana 1 on Division Road this month, as you approach the house with the number 10437 out front, you’ll see something glowing.

That’s Dean and Loretta Wilson’s Christmas gift to the community.

Now and throughout the holiday season, the Wilsons have transformed their property into an extraordinary Christmas lighting display.

“We love it,” Dean Wilson, owner-operator of Wilson Electric, said Sunday afternoon as he put finishing touches on the display.

“We moved out here in 2005,” said his wife Loretta. And that’s when the holiday lighting project took flight.

“What started this is my daughter and son,” said Dean. “They loved Me Zoo. They really, really loved it.”

But that annual holiday display of lights in rural Randolph County near Farmland came to an end, and that’s when the Wilsons decided to come up with something special of their own.

“We’ve tried to add something every year, except one year when both our parents were sick,” said Loretta.

That year was 2016 when Dean’s father died after an extended illness, something that put the holiday display on the shelf for a while.

But folks who had enjoyed it missed it and asked the rural Dunkirk couple if they were going to continue. They were. And they are again this year.

On Sunday evening, for the second time, they added something new: Santa. This year they also added hot chocolate and coffee for visitors.

If you missed that, don’t worry. The lights will still be blazing for the rest of the month.

Driving by, you’ll see numerous lighted deer, moose and reindeer. You’ll see a lighted nativity scene complete with wise men and at least one camel. You’ll see plenty of snowmen and a sign that says, “Happy Birthday, Jesus.” You’ll even see a lighted Statue of Liberty.

Then there’s this year’s addition, the Santa Railroad.

Wilson estimates there are between 5,000 and 7,000 feet of electrical cord winding around the front lawn.

“Of course he has the knowledge to do all the work,” said Loretta. “I’m usually the one who decides where it goes in the yard.”

Their kids help, along with various cousins and good friends.

“But the bulk of it is us,” said Loretta. “It’s all just about the joy of Christmas.”

One year she kept track of the time involved. It came in at about 200 hours.

“He doesn’t want to start to set it up until after Thanksgiving,” said Loretta. “We keep the lights up until Jan. 1. Tear down is a little easier.”

They might disagree about that, but there’s one thing they know is true.

“It’s about the kids,” said Dean.

“Of course,” said Loretta, “all the kids. That’s why we keep doing it.”