Seasonal & Holidays
Woman To Thieves Who Stole Jesus: 'You Need God'
Patch readers share some of the stories behind singing houses and twinkling lights in Patch's Southeast Michigan Holiday Lights Guide.
If the walls of the brightly decorated houses around southeast Michigan could talk, what holiday stories would they tell? Patch readers shared a couple worth re-telling when we asked for submissions for the 2014 Southeast Michigan Holiday Lights Guide. (Photo licensed under Creative Commons/Flickr)
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Something downright nasty happened to Frances Dennis and her husband in Troy the other morning.
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Some young miscreants stole the Baby Jesus – along with the cow, the mule and the camel – from the Nativity scene they’ve been putting up for the last half century or so. And you had better believe that Frances Dennis has a few words for five boys who took them, if they’re listening.
Hers is one of several stories behind the twinkling and oftentimes singing Christmas displays shared by readers when we asked for submissions for Patch’s 2014 Southeast Michigan Holiday Lights Guide. If driving around listening to Christmas carols and oohing and ahhing over lights is your cup of holiday hot chocolate, prepare to be impressed: 2014 is the year of the singing house. We’ll share details about a few below.
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But first, back to the awful thing that happened to Frances Dennis, and why it didn’t rob her of her faith. In her own words:
“Sad but true, this display has been put together for over 50 years and on Monday morning around 12:50 a.m, five young boys resided to steal our baby, cow, mule and camel. We were awoken by three very nice Troy officers. They advised us that a neighbor called 911 and that our baby was gone.
“I believe that these kids needed God in their lives because their families are lacking. I hope that at least one if not all receive a conscience and return the four pieces taken. It’s very sad and disheartening to know that young people have such a lack of respect for other peoples property. Friends keep telling me to put it away but I have a little faith that one of these five boys will return our family home. Merry Christmas.”
The Music of Friendship
Another display with special story behind it is found at 19819 Maxine St. in St. Clair Shores.
The stunning display features thousands of Christmas lights choreographed to music broadcast from a radio station, so it’s easy to listen to the music from stereos from the comfort of your car. The extravagant light show is an annual tradition, but family, neighbors and friends put up the display o help out their friend, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“My dad has done this for many years now and people love it,” a Patch reader tells us. “This year he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so we had a Christmas light party and invited people to put the lights up while he supervised.”
The light show features a selection from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, as well as holiday favorites, including “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
About a half dozen readers suggested the St. Clair Shores display as as a must-see on a holiday lights tour.
The Best of the Rest
190 Amy Lynn, Metamora: This is a labor of love for them and a fantastic holiday light show. They put up over 70,000 lights that dance and sing to music (with their own rented radio station). This animation is synced to the music is a must and has become a family tradition.
Related:
24490 Cabot Drive, Woodhaven: Lights are sequenced to music. You can tune your car radio to 107.9 . House has driveway arches, mega tree and leaping arches.
27320 Little Mack, St. Clair Shores: Every day, a little more gets added – and it began in the beginning of November. It is a mixture of old vintage blow molds and new LED displays. Must see! It is on a main road but it is right on the corner of a side street (Erben) so parking is easy!
509 S. Lemen St., Fenton: It’s just beautiful and mesmerizing. It’s in town, so it’s a side street.
On Lakeshore Drive, just north of Vernier, Grosse Pointe Shores: There is a tree with white lights, far back from the street, that is just simply outstanding! There is no parking. You will be on Lakeshore Drive, speed limit is 35. Your best view is coming north from Moross. You’ll see a Las Vegas house on the corner of Lakeshore and Vernier. Go a bit past that, and BOOM, there it is.
Corner of Lake Shore & Moross, Grosse Pointe Farms: They have an amazing amount of lights – and they went all out for Halloween, too! If you are lucky, you get the light there, no turn on red. It’s great and if you are going 35 and get a green light, you still get a great view.
950 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores: This property has been decorated with taste and elegance. Best display ever at the address, and not overdone.
910 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores: Very beautiful and very well done.
The Ford Estate, 1100 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores: It looks wonderful this year, better than it has ever looked.
5807 Cliffside Drive, Troy: Lots of Christmas blowup figures and lots of LED lights! Lights are on at dusk via timer. Parking on one side of street and around the corner. House is on a corner lot of Cliffside and Rutgers.
2617 Phillips, Berkley: What makes this display special is the gingerbread house appeal. The whole house is outlined. Color-coordinated lights. And my favorite is the side of the garage which is technically on Catalpa. Lights are used to “ draw.” Viewers will be in awe. Parking available on Phillips.
982 Burns Road, Milford: The property has been done yearly for over 10 years. Beautiful Christmas wonderland. Roadside parking.
1807 Samoset, Royal Oak: The lights are in-sync to a rented radio station. They even have a sign that references the station. It’s right on a corner, so the parking isn’t too congested.
3705 Everett Drive, Rochester Hills: Animated displays synchronized to 30 different Christmas Songs. Parking is wide open.
18074 22 Mile Road, Macomb Township: This homeowner adds to his display every year, making it spectacular. Everything is done up including the basketball net. No parking on Main Street, but they are the last house before a subdivision entrance where you could park.
42071 Hunters Ridge, Canton Township: Elegant, good use of color and landscape lights. Not overly done. Fits the Christmas scene and does not use music and such. Just simple, good ol’ Christmas arrangements of lights.
3526 Williams, Dearborn: Nice display with moving lights to the music. Not overdone. Street parking available.
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