A family tradition continues
Bill Dortch is continuing a family tradition which began 32 years ago with his parents, Edna and Ed Dortch. In 1975 the Dortches began decorating their shoe store in Jackson. Starting out with 750 lights, they eventually began decorating their home in Jackson and expanded that number each year. They eventually were putting up thousands of lights annually, with a little more than 20,000 by 2006, which was the last year they decorated their home. Now, their son, Bill, has taken on the task of carrying on the tradition at his and his parents' home in Leroy. Turning onto Palmer Circle one can hardly miss the brilliance of the 20,000 lights that display the Dortches' love of the Christmas season and what it truly means. There are the images of Santa Claus and the elves, but the true meaning of the season is displayed in a nativity scene. "That's what this is all about," said Dortch. "Without Him (Christ) there would be no Christmas. The wood cutouts used to create the various displays were created by Dortch's parents. Some contain hundreds of lights, which were painstakingly installed by Ed Dortch. "It's fun to begin putting everything up around the first of November, then to see it all completed," said Bill Dortch. The lights are turned on at dark and kept on until 10 nightly, except for Christmas Eve when they are on until midnight. They will be kept on until after New Year's then taken down and put in storage until next year. But, don't expect the same exact display when Christmas 2008 rolls around because Dortch said it changes some each year. (SA photos by Evan Carden)
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