Page Family Christmas Display benefits homeless shelter
Tim Page, left, and his brother Shane are ready to place some more items in the family Christmas display.
In keeping with tradition, the Page family of Goshen added a few more pieces to their annual Christmas display. The display is a labor of love to remember the late Jim Page and collect donations for the Friends of the Homeless Shelter in New Philadelphia.
“We’re adding stuff everywhere,” Shane Page said. “We’re adding a wire frame train and probably another 50 or so blow molds.”
Some pieces including the swamp monster and Elf on the Shelf were moved to other areas.
In past years Page traveled to various locations, in and out of state, to pick up new pieces. This year he did things differently.
“I bought a bunch of stuff from eBay and online and had it delivered,” Page said. “I don’t think I drove anywhere this year.”
The family also did much updating on their decorations.
“We’ve fixed a lot of stuff and redid a bunch of things to make our lives easier putting it up,” Page said. “We mount everything on wood, and some of the wood, it’s been on there for 20 years. It’s all rotted, falling off. So we cut all new wood and painted it.”
They’ve added brackets on some pieces to make them easier to hang and switched to a different style of extension cord where you make your own cord and can put outlets where needed. It has cut down somewhat on the number of cords they need to run to keep the display lighted.
The family not only works year round on keeping the pieces in good order, but also spends two to three weeks putting them up before the holidays.
“I’ve been working on stuff, literally all summer. I made some new characters and then ran out of time, so I didn’t even put those up,” Page said.
The entire family including Marilyn Page; Shane, Trisha, Brayden (Troyer) and Lucas Page; Tim, Katie, Mattie and Brooke Page; and Matt, Tara and Seth Page all pitched in to help.
The display includes lights, blow molds, wooden characters and other items, and Christmas carols are played.
With the holiday tradition, the Page family has been using the display to support the Tuscarawas County Friends of the Homeless Shelter since 2012 for anyone wishing to donate. Nonperishable foods, toys and toiletry items are accepted. The box is emptied each night. Donations can be dropped off at the large Snoopy doghouse at the end of the driveway.
The display will be lit Sunday through Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday from 6-10 p.m. through New Year’s Eve.
The home is located south of New Philadelphia just off state Route 416 at 2200 Goshen Valley Road SE, New Philadelphia. Goshen Valley loops around to state Route 416 so visitors can easily drive back to the highway without having to turn around.
Jim Page started the family tradition about 50 years ago with a Santa cutout. The display has grown so large it takes up the entire front yard, back yard and a lower area across the roadway from the home. What would Jim Page think if he could see the display now?
“He would love it,” Shane Page said. “He got excited about this, and he started doing it 50 years ago.”
The Page family would like to thank those who came to see the display and those who have helped with donating to the Friends of the Homeless Shelter. They like to support the organization.
“They help out local people, and it always seems like they need help and appreciate everything,” Page said.