When Maryann and David Shuck first started decorating their yard for Christmas 18 years ago, neither imagined it would grow into what it is today.

“We probably have enough to decorate the entire street,” Maryann laughed. “Each year we try to change it around or add something new.”

Even though it may have started off small, Maryann said the tradition was one the couple decided to continue each year, but not for them.

“We like to keep the decorations outside because we get a thrill from all the cars stopping with the kids pointing and smiling,” she said. “It brings a joy to us to see someone else happy.”

The house and yard, located at 708 Glenway Drive, is lit up with a variety of items.

One of the main attractions in the yard is the manger scene, which is actually the fourth different manger the couple has displayed.

“My husband made the manger out of plywood,” Maryann said. “We have Plexiglas over the front and rope lights on the inside to light it up.”

In addition, blue star lights hang above it to look like the sky. An angel whose wings move and a palm tree are extra touches added to complete the scene.

The rest of the yard is filled with items including two artificial trees decorated with lights and holly, candles flickering in the front window, three deer and 30 miniature trees along the driveway, two bright green trees, and an angel with yellow wings. The fence is decorated with red bows and swag lights.

Rudolph, with his blinking nose, is accompanied by eight reindeer and Santa Claus in a sleigh with gifts. Deer, doves, and several snowmen can also be seen in the yard.

On the pond, a seven-foot Christmas tree with green lights stands tall with two large Christmas packages that open and close.

“It’s loaded with lights,” said Maryann. “There are so many lights on the tree, I can’t keep track.”

Around the pond blinks "Merry Christmas" while a four-foot tall Christmas card blinks “Peace” along the other fence line.

In another section of the yard, visitors can see two more seven-foot tall trees with green lights, a white tree with three packages under it, a snowman that raises his hat and a Santa Claus who waves a flag. A mailbox, which reads “letters to Santa” opens and closes. Santa Claus is also located on the mailbox and plays music as cars drive by.

Lastly, the Shucks set up a train with three cars pulled by an engine next to two reindeer with moving heads and a North Pole sign.

The couple really enjoys decorating.

“It’s just something we do,” Maryann said. “We decorate every month for something.”

The Shucks appreciate everyone who drives by to look at the home and are glad to see others enjoy their hard work.

It took them about three weeks to completely set up the yard, which they worked on every day until it was finished. They even worked outside in the rain.

“We had to get it done,” Maryann said. “We always light it Thanksgiving night and we just had to get it done.”

Mark and Mary Penz have decorated their home, located at 211 Grove St., on and off over the years.

“I don’t think we even put a light out last year,” Mark said.

This year, however, they decided to give it another go, but with the use of a little more imagination.

While Mark and Mary don’t like to decorate their yard with too many commercialized items, they have found ways to express their creative side.

“My wife wanted to decorate the tree out front with a smiley face,” he explained. “She’s always wanted to do it, but we couldn’t figure out how to make it work.”

He explained the smile would have to cover five feet in width and three feet in depth in order to work the way they wanted it to.

So after much thought, the main attraction in the Penz’s yard is the large “Sigmund the Smiley Tree.” According to Mark, the upright yew is unique in itself, when it is not even decorated. Their three children even nicknamed the tree “Sigmund” after a popular children’s show, “Sigmund and the Sea Monsters,” which aired from 1973 to 1975.

It stands 15 feet tall and eight feet in diameter. Mark had to use a 24-foot extension ladder just to decorate the top.

In order to make the face work, he used cardboard and punched holes for the 50 LED lights, which make up the smile. He then wrapped the lights in clear green wrap. The face also include two eyes made with white globes, a bow around the bottom of the tree and a red hat with white lights.

This isn’t the first time the couple created something themselves though. Mark said in the past, he and Mary made the two Christmas trees and wreath, which they still use to decorate the porch, as well as the ornaments hanging on the porch railing. Candy canes, wreaths and lights also decorate the porch railings.

In addition, the couple put up two store-bought deer and a train to add to the holiday decorations. It took five days to set up the yard, but they enjoyed the decorating aspect.

Mark’s favorite part is knowing people will stop by and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

“I don’t consider it a lot of stuff from what I’ve seen in other yards,” he added.

No matter how much is in the Penz’s yard, a number of people still drive by slow or stop to look at the creations. Some even make a trip around the block, Mark noticed.

“It makes you feel good,” he said. “It makes it feel like it was worth the effort.”



Nominated lights:

• 211 Grove Street

• 708 Glenway Drive

• 2861N Ind. 25

• 1076N Ind. 17

• 207 W. Center St., Royal Center

• Corner of 24th and Broadway

• 834 W. Wabash Ave.

• Usher Street

• Fancy Flea, 1187 N. Ind. 25



Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com.