Fulton’s longest running holiday display

FULTON

Couple decorate for Chr istmas 70 years and counting

By SARAH FORD For Shaw Media

A Fulton home near the water tower, aglow for the season, may not have the most lights for Christmas, but it wins the award for the longest running display. Roy and Mary Jo Nelson have been decorating their home at 105 Ninth St. for as long as they’ve been there, and it’s a must see for those on the hunt for holiday lights.

The display is a mixture of old and new, with a few items added each year to mix it up. The lights are timed to go on at 5 p.m. and turn off a few hours later at 10, since the kids should be in bed by then, Roy said. He keeps the parameter lights on until early morning since deer used to get tangled up and knock them over.

Roy has been decorating his family homes for Christmas each year for more than 70 years, but first learned the trade with his grandpa when he was 10. His family moved to Fulton in 1952 and he helped take on the annual tradition. In those early days, he had to get creative with the light strings since one bad bulb would ruin a whole strand. He figured out that by cutting the strand up and adding more wire and two extra bulbs, he’d get more voltage and lights that would last longer.

He and Mary Jo moved into their current home in 1976 and every year since the house has been lit up for the season. Roy typically starts around Thanksgiving, though nowadays it takes about a week to get the display up and running since he works a few hours a day. He’s not allowed to get up on the eaves anymore, per his wife’s orders, but there’s plenty of lights to string up elsewhere.

The display features a variety of multi-colored lights and figures, vintage blow molds, Santa and reindeer figures, a kids’ choir, inflatables and moving colors on the house. Roy estimates about 5,000 modern lights for his display. The west side of the home is decorated for children, and the south side showcases the reason for the season with a Nativity scene, church building and Star of Bethlehem.

On many nights, and depending on the weather, Roy will don his Santa suit and sit at the end of the driveway, waving and passing out candy canes to those who stop to see the lights. He sees the kids of the kids who saw his displays years ago, and many teens stop by for selfies with Santa. Church groups stop by to sing carols, and their home has become a destination for families bundled up in the car driving around to see all the lights in town.

Seeing the joy in kids is why he does it year after year. He laughs as he recalls stories through the year, like one child who was convinced that Santa Claus actually lives there. Others had to stop and turn around, convinced he was a moving Santa mannequin. “It’s very satisfying. I just love it,” Roy said.

Years ago, the couple used to host Christmas in July parties. Mary Jo is now just as content to decorate inside the home, with seasonal decor of eras past and present. Their Christmas tree has old-fashioned ornaments and tinsel, and there are rooms all decked out and ready for their daughter and granddaughter to visit from Michigan.

Roy retired from the City of Fulton and Mary Jo formerly worked in social services at Harbor Crest Home. Now retired, Roy has time to devote to his interests, such as decorating outside the Fulton Presbyterian Church and volunteering at the windmill, even appearing as “Miller Claus” at the Fulton Christmas Walk.

The Christmas lights will be up until the New Year, and then it’s back to storage in the “man cave” and shed for another year. The couple will be watching for new items to add next year, as the tradition will continue as long as they live there.

Sarah Ford for Shaw Media Mary Jo and Roy Nelson go all out for Christmas decorating, both inside and outside.

Happy HolidaysFROM HOMESTEAD

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