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Show i Friday, December 8. 1989 11k IXiiiv Tradition of Christmas Street has brightened Salt Lake for 40 years By Angela Bagley-Foot-e Chronicle Staff Writer When Christmas lights on 30 homes turn on Dec. 9, a Salt Lake street will be transformed into a "little Las Vegas strip" The decorative lights first shined one holiday season long ago when neighbors on the Glen Arbor street decided to celebrate Christmas together. They decorated every home on the street with lights, put up a neighborhood Christmas tree and had an outdoor party complete with Santa Claus, carolers, hot chocolate and - doughnuts. That historical Christmas was December 1948. And the lights on every home, the tree, the neighborhood party and the thousands of cars that drive by to see the array of brightly lit homes have been a tradition for Glen Arbor residents ever since. John Godfrey, chairman of the Christmas Street Association, a neighborhood association created to plan the yearly event, said Ed Clyde, past chairman of the University of Utah Institutional Council and U. distinguished alumnus recipient, began the tradition when he moved onto the street 40 years ago. Clyde had lived in a small farming community where residents had a tradition of town-squar- holiday e festivities. After moving to the Salt Lake Valley, he held a meeting in his home with neighbors and decided to holiday bring some of the small-tow- n spirit to the city, Godfrey said. Over the last 40 years, most residents who move into homes on the street are eager to participate. "Most are very excited to do it. It's just kind of a fun thing to do," he said. The neighborhood Christmas lights tradition has become well-know- n throughout Utah. On some weekends, more than 5,000 cars will drive by to see the spectacle. "We're about 1725 South 15th East, and we've had traffic jams down to 13th South Westminster and into that area, about seven blocks away," he one holiday season when a man walked by and told him he took care said. The neighborhood has received much publicity from the local press as well as the international media. Fifteen years ago a camera crew from Japan came to Salt Lake City to film a documentary for Japanese audiences about the street's Christmas lights, he ' said. -- . Not only do all neighbors voluntarily decorate their homes for the world to see, they also contribute money every year to the association's checking account Godfrey said the assessment is for the neighborhood tree, a rented chainsaw to cut it down, tree lights, power for the lights and a fence to place around it. The assessment also pays for maintaining a large sign at the end of the street that says, "Christmas Street." The neighbors also purchase a liability policy for any accidents that may be caused by the lights or the tree. For the six weeks in December and January, the policy is $100 a year, he said. g The tradition has created friendships among all the neighbors. Godfrey said all have come to know each other quite well by working on the project together each long-lastin- year. closer-kni- t a have neighborhood by knowing all the "We people on the street," he added. Dick Burdett, who was 7 years old when the tradition started on his street, said what he remembers most about the tradition is the good it has done for others. Burdett explained he was decorating the home of a neighbor of a group of retarded children and for those children, coming to see the street was the "the biggest thing in their entire life." Each year, busloads of senior citizens come to see the lights. Choirs also come to sing on the street, and children who have grown up and moved away come back for the yearly party with Santa Claus. "It's a big thing for them," he said. He added that one little boy, who is taken care of in a nursery in one of the neighborhood homes, said during a television program that for him Christmas Street is Christmas. "I'm always amazed of the compliments through the years. It's a wonderful tradition and it's doing a lot of people good. Others have expressed gratitude for what we do and for continuing it," he said. Burdett said he hopes 1 from page twenty-fou- r be like and our celebrations don't ever live up to the expectations. There are the classic coffee ads where long lost relatives creep into the house and make coffee for the 1 IV iwK I I n j ii I f I Jf1 i i m 1 " A Mil I I jft H iw Mm if I cilui'lihidi fkesflbioiolb Cimmide - Twenty-Fiv- e l'aije whole family on Christmas morning. The Hallmark card ads have more smiling faces, happy gift recipients and teary eyes than I've ever seen in my life. The change might have come about as a result of the creation of malls which cram all the Christmas shoppers together. They are forced to wander around like mice in a maze. They ride up and down on escalators, eat boxed foods in food courtyards and pick through the same display, after display, have a good Christmas attitude anymore. Christmas has become I not endure, something to enjoy. Christmas now has a purpose. Producers use it to make as much money as they possibly can. Consumers use it to show they can buy more than their neighbors can. Advertisers use it to put a new spin on ad campaigns or as a reason to create new jingles. Large men with bushy white beards use it as an excuse to wear red long johns in public. Children use it to make up for all the gifts they didn't get for their birthdays. (At least those who celebrate birthdays during regular months of the year do.) OK. maybe this is just another column grumbling about how searching for unique gifts. But to something think Christmas has Christmas was so much better in the old days. changed because people just don't the neighbors can continue the tradition because it would disappoint so many people everywhere if they did not. And also, as the neighborhood children grow older, they still look forward to coming home and helping their parents decorate the homes. Alice Neeley and her family moved to the neighborhood 10 years ago. She said the tradition was an "added plus" to the move and they feel fortunate to have the opportunity to live there. Neeley said when the lights go on each year, the street comes to life. Her four children look forward to this every year, and the family is glad to be a part of keeping the tradition alive. She added that even though the lights do not come on until Dec. 9, many cars have been driving by since Thanksgiving. The drivers of these cars have been honking their horns to let all the neighbors know they are anxious to see the lights. UTAH'S BEST SELECTION SKIERS FOR CROSS-COUNTR- Y Telemarking Touring Track & Skate Clothing Books & Maps Accessories Custom ski packages at 0 savings! 10-3- For the active skier, biker or climber! IIH December Specials on Climbing Skins & Avalanche Beacons Lay aw ay Now For Christmas! toummG. 1989 Wasatch Utah salt Lake City, 702 East 100 South II ill Wimborne 1972 - 1 359-936- 1 I 1 " i " " j V y W M I y I II lytegj THE DESIGN AWARD COLLECTION ierraWest SJNIVERSITrBOOKSTORE illMIWCDCITV ii i v i n o i i i smj OF UTAH CAMPUS J E WELERS ZCMl Center Downtown Salt Lake 10-- 6 M-- F Provo Sat. 10-- 9 (s) ATt(f ton 359-04C- Vernal Ami kic (jtm Visa an Exiw ss So'..f |
