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| Messenger photos by Rachel Scofield
Sherma Ferguson of Revere Court in Lincoln Village lights a candle as part of her cul-de-sac’s luminary display. Ferguson and her neighbors will light the luminaries the first three Saturdays in December, as well as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. |
A sightseer once called their quiet little cul-de-sac “Christmas Street.”
Every year the residents of Revere Court in Lincoln Village festively adorn their individual homes with colored lights and collaboratively line their street with 200 luminaries.
The first three Saturdays in December, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve, the neighbors will light the luminaries at dusk.
Neighbor Rob Carter even stands along the street dressed as Santa to give candy canes to all the children who come see the lights.
“People like what we do here on Revere Court,” said Mark Short, who thought of the luminary idea seven years ago.
Short asked his neighbors, “Do you know what I’d like to do?”
Many people said it was a “fantastic idea,” so Short sent a survey to each of the 14 houses asking if they would like to participate.
Everyone said “yes.”
In Short’s garage on Dec. 6, an assembly line made quick work of filling milk jugs with sand then adding candles through a door cut in the side.
Loading the jugs into wagons, the workers took to the street.
In November, Short crafted flags by attaching caution tape to tongue depressors, and then he placed the flags in the ground. The flags marked where each luminary would set.
When the last jug was in place, everybody lit the candles, then returned to Short’s garage to celebrate with warm homemade soup and cookies.
“Everyone works together,” Carter said. “It reminds me of the old days when I was little and people would visit on porches.”
“The neighbors have always been a tight-knit group, everyone helps out when in need,” said neighbor Sherma Ferguson. “Lots of neighbors pitched in with the storm in September and always with snow removal – most guys love using those snow blowers.”
Last year Jane Danduran won $75 in the Licoln Village holiday home decorating contest and Ferguson received $25 for placing third. Both ladies donated their prize money to purchase candles for the luminaries.
