a silent night - guaranteed.

Every year, the city of Willoughby decks out the downtown area for the holidays. Shortly after Thanksgiving, the city holds a lighting ceremony. People pack the street, standing out in the cold, waiting. Schoolchildren sing carols, the mayor makes a pronouncement and for a few moments the lights are turned off and the street goes dark. There is an expectant hush and then a countdown begins. 5, 4, 3...2...1...and then, TA-DA! Downtown Willoughby is suddenly a magical place. City hall is covered in twinkling lights, the shops are all decorated, the trees lining the sidewalks are lit, Christmas carols are piped in, and the little park area and gazebo are made into a winter wonderland with lights, displays, and even a little house where children can visit Santa.

This little park is triangular, it takes up the space that is left by the fork created by the branching of the main street. It is a well used space, and well tended. There are picnic tables, a gazebo used for summertime bandstand concerts and wedding photos, bench swings and a Civil War monument encircled by a rose garden. At the very tip of the triangle is an old cement horse trough (now used as a planter), a fountain, and a cannon. (I just called the service department and spoke to local historian Neil who says that our cannon is from Fort McHenry and was aimed at the house of the mayor of Baltimore during the Civil War.)

During the holiday season the city of Willoughby also displays a creche, or nativity scene, in the park. To my knowledge, no one has ever complained. (not surprising, though...the high school is called "Home of the Rebels" & no one has ever complained about the occasional display of the confederate flag either.) The creche is protected by a layer of plexiglas, just in case of vandals...and one might think that the placement of the creche sends a message too.
It makes me chuckle every time I see it.

(it's tough to disguise a cannon. click to see.)