OxfordPress.com

Jim and Melva Brown worked tirelessly to get their Christmas display finished by Thanksgiving.

Each year, that's the magic day when the couple's grandchildren travel from Louisville, Ky., to Oxford, anticipating their grandparents' display.

"I tell everybody it used to take me three eight-hour days to set up, now it takes me eight three-hour days since I'm older," Jim said.

The Browns' idea for the annual display was sparked in their Eaton home almost 40 years ago when their son and daughter were in grade school. When Jim picked up a copy of Popular Mechanics magazine and saw a picture of Disney characters, the couple decided to create their own Disney display in their yard.

The exhibit grew from there.

In 1974, the Browns moved to Oxford and began collecting Santas, which inhabit almost every room of the house during the holidays.

In its present state, the full display covers the inside and outside of the house and includes a sleigh with two reindeer, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, a nativity scene, two trees inside, 50 sets of lights and Bambi that doubles as Rudolph.

The Browns also provide another popular service to the children of Oxford. The couple have a mailbox addressed 'Santa Claus' outside their house where children can drop off their Christmas letter to be answered by jolly St. Nick. Jim admits the letters are "really funny to read," even though sometimes he and his wife don't know how to answer them.

"One time a kid wrote that he didn't believe in Santa Claus, so we stuck reindeer hair in the envelope," Jim said.

Last year, the Browns gathered letters they received from past Christmases and mailed them back to the children's parents.

"We thought the mothers and dads might want to put them in a scrapbook," Jim said. "Some of those kids are in high school and college now and they really appreciated that."

Although the couple has considered retiring their display, the overwhelmingly positive community response keeps the tradition alive.

"Each year we think we're going to stop, but when the kids come by and ask when we're going to start putting it up, we decide to do it again," Jim said. "Over the years kids get excited, and now we have the kids of those kids getting excited."

Although the Browns did switch to smaller bulbs a couple years ago, not even the tough economic times are getting in the way of their exhibit.

"The expense and increase in electric hasn't caused me to cut back yet," Jim said. "We always have a higher bill in November and December and it gets up pretty big, but not enough to get us to quit because of that."

The Browns hosted an open house Dec. 6 for friends and neighbors. They even provided punch and cookies.

"The community loves it," Jim said. "When Halloween comes around and we're passing out candy, most people want to know when we're going to put up decorations and when we're going to have our open house."