| Providence
residents light up with holiday spirit
By Megan Maughan Roe
December 8, 2004 | PROVIDENCE -- Candy
Canes trim every sidewalk you see. Gingerbread men stand
in the snow, greeting visitors as they come and go.
A sparkling yellow star shines atop a high post. Bright
colored lights wrap around windows and trees. A dazzling
signs pronounces: MERRY CHRISTMAS! The North Pole? No,
Center Street in Providence.
On this colorfully lit street you will see more than
just a handful of houses with the Christmas spirit.
Why?
"We love the holidays," Brent Speth said. "It sets
a holiday atmosphere for ourselves, our grandchildren,
and the people that drive by."
Speth and his wife Coreen have been decorating their
house since they first moved there in 1980. Speth said
he usually starts putting lights up in mid-November
then turns them on "not before Thanksgiving, but no
later than Dec. 1."
Ron Leichty said his family lights up their front
yard on Thanksgiving night every year. He said Providence
city used to hold a contest every year for the best
decorations. The Leichtys won the category of "Best
Commerical Decorations" a few years ago. They thought
it was funny because their decorations were actually
homemade.
Leichty said his family decorates so much every year
just because it's a fun thing to do.
"When I was a kid, everyone would decorate, but then
there was an energy crisis," Liechty said. "Now everyone's
starting to do it again. It's kind of contagious."
Leichty said his light bill almost triples each December
when the lights turn on. Glenn Dattage said he has that
same problem. As a next-door neighbor to the Speths,
Dattage said he's not competing with his neighbors to
have the most festive decorations. He had other reasons
for lighting up.
"You can't be the only one on the block without lights,"
Dattage said.
Dattage said he won the contest for best decorations
a few years ago. He said he's been decorating his house
for 30 to 40 years.
These Center Street residents have a variety of decorations
but they all seem to agree on one thing.
"It's not to win any contests or compete with each
other," Speth said. "It's just a fun thing to do."
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