Jann Neil didn’t intend to launch a new Christmas tradition. It just kind of happened.
Using commercially-designed holiday ‘village? buldings, Neil decided to go for the local look, and transformed some of the generic buildings into her own version of Main Street Clarkston.
An old church building is Neil’s representation of the Clarkston Union. Rudy’s Market is represented, as is Village Apparel and Gifts and Morgan’s apartments. A gazebo reminded Neil of Depot Park.
It all started with a house which reminded Neil of the duplex in which she lives in the Village of the City of Clarkston.
‘That inspired me,? she said, and soon some of the other buildings followed. ‘I thought, ‘I’m going to make this our village.??
The display includes lots of little details, including street signs for S. Main Street and N. Holcomb, musicians to honor the Clarkston Conservatory and other figures and street benches. On a couple of the buildings, realistic-looking signs came from logos clipped from ads in The Clarkston News.
At a recent cocktail party, friends saw the display and loved it.
‘My friends thought it would be pretty clever,? she said.
Neil is a 10 year area resident and one-year city resident, and she said her Christmas village is just a reflection of how she feels about Clarkston.
‘I love living here,? she said. ‘It’s so secure.?