Christmastime is here again! One of the most wonderful things to do in Romeo around this season is to see the houses adorned with Christmas lights and other decorations galore. Did you know that at one point in Romeo history that there was a contest to see which houses had the best Christmas lights?
In the 1970s before the Energy Crisis, the local chapter of the Jaycees sponsored a contest that determined which houses had the most outstanding Christmas exterior lighting. For those who don't know who they are, the Jaycees are a non-profit organization that focuses on leadership training and civic engagement for people between the ages of 18 and 40. A chapter in Romeo was active in the 1970s.
The front page of the January 6, 1972 issue of The Romeo Observer displayed this photo of what is known as the Ransom B. Moore residence. At the time, it was owned by Lloyd Johnson and his family. It was one of six houses that was selected as outstanding in the Jaycees's second annual Light-Up contest for their Christmas homelighting decorations.
How did this home and the others do it? The article "Light-Up Winners are Named," which accompanies the picture, explains just that. The judges toured the village during the week prior to Christmas "observing homes which were decorated, and made their selection based upon original lighted exterior displays expressing the Christmas season."
Jaycee Chairman Nick Ruggirello later mentioned that because of the quality of the Christmas light decorations, "no attempt was made to select a first place winner."
The lights on each of the six chosen homes were just that outstanding. They all received the same prize, "gift awards for the same value."
Recently, one of Lloyd's daughters Shawn Ratburn (nee Johnson) came to the archives to do some research for her Green Space on Prospect Street post. She grew up living in that house in the 1970s and recalled feeling proud when it was selected as one of the winners in that lighting contest. In addition, she remembered how her mom would get calls from people "asking if our house lights would be turned on that evening because they were going to come by to see them."
I'm not surprised that people did that because again, look at those lights. It looks outstanding for the most wonderful time of the year.
To learn more about the Jaycees, their annual Light-Up contest, and the Ransom B. Moore residence, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, January 6, 1972, p.1-A
