Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays
holiday magic. He’s crafted a 14-foot long train
with four cars, built a 14-foot tall Christmas tree
and added toy soldiers in guard houses along
his driveway. He ticks off his inventory like Santa
reading his list.
“I know where everything goes, and I have a
system that works,” he said. “I have a hot air balloon
on the side of the house with three animated
reindeer and Santa; I have wire deer; I have
snowmen, and animated characters in the garage.
I also have two large nutcrackers, wreaths and
garland for the windows and door. I use icicle
lights; I use red, green, and white lights; I have
multicolored lights and LED lights. I use it all.”
The cheer continues inside the Owens’ house
as well, with five Christmas trees and heavily
decorated basement, living and dining rooms
and more. “We just love Christmas,” he explained.
He has an agreement with his patient wife,
Becky, that if he buys something new, something
28 EXTOL : DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020
old must go away. Each year, he changes the theme
and look of the full garage, which is transformed
into a barn, with Styrofoam panels painted to look
like Santa’s reindeers’ stalls – artwork crafted 10
years ago by students in New Albany High School’s
art department. The garage features a working
train, animated characters, Christmas figurines
and scenes, and an 85-year-old aluminum color
wheel tree that belonged to Owens’ grandmother.
“I encourage people to walk up to the garage
doors and look inside,” Owens said. “I want kids
to see inside the garage. I love to see the looks on
their faces and their eyes get so big.”
But alas, lamented Owens, “my wife doesn’t
like me getting on the roof anymore. I have a large
sleigh and reindeer that went across the roof, but
it’s hard to maneuver alone. My wife didn’t like me
on the roof with it, so I haven’t used it for several
years, but this year, I put it in the yard instead.”
All that work adds up, with an electric bill