Pulling the Plug on Christmas Tradition

For 35 years, Mervin Whipple has personally greeted -- and counted -- an estimated 1.4 million visitors from all over the country to his renowned annual Christmas Wonderland. The free display boasts 120,000 lights and moving figures.

But the man known as Mr. Christmas may finally be pulling the plug on the tradition. Whipple said that, when he turns off the lights at 9 p.m. Jan. 1, he won’t be turning them back on.

It’s not just his age, though he is 74. And it’s not just the cost, though the season’s bill ran $18,000 last year -- $4,000 for the electric bill alone.

No, Christmas Wonderland is closing because there’s just not enough Christmas spirit.

“The whole attitude of people has changed in 35 years,” Whipple said. “The spirit of giving isn’t nowhere near as much as the spirit of receiving.”

Christmas Wonderland, in the Ballouville section of this eastern Connecticut town, began in 1967 with a Nativity scene and 225 lights. It’s grown each year, but Whipple says he’s never lost sight of his original focus.

“It’s giving and doing for somebody else; that’s just exactly how I feel,” he said.

He’s gone from dozens of volunteers in years past to four this year.

That’s not enough, Whipple says, as the display takes months to set up even with 20 people working on it.

The display includes two life-size toy soldiers standing guard in the driveway, as well as Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Several dozen glass-fronted wood crates, 10 feet high, house more animated scenes.

There’s a horse and carriage bearing figures in Victorian costumes, and a family of mice asleep in bed with a Christmas tree sparkling in the corner. A trio of white-robed angels beam benevolently, Mrs. Claus knits a cap for Santa, and all of the reindeer are stabled near a life-size figure of Uncle Sam.

And although Whipple has always operated his Wonderland with the notion that he will never charge admission, the donation box stowed discreetly in the corner of the showroom has been embarrassingly empty. Last year, the first two days of donations brought in less than half a cent per person.

Those who grew up on regular visits to Christmas Wonderland say Whipple threatens to close down every year, but agree it will be a big loss when he finally does.

“It’s a tradition,” said Ryan Doyle, 21, of Killingly.

“All the little kids, when they grow up, they’ll be like, ‘That was so nice.’ ”