ASHLAND — Some of the most impressive Christmas light displays in Ashland are here thanks to the Johnson family.
Mitch Johnson has been decorating his house and yard at 1542 S. Baney Road since he moved there in 2000, and each year, he adds more lights.
For years he had help from his son, Danny, who since has expanded the tradition to his own house at 1344 Township Road 1353.
Their family business, J & H Lawncare, is also responsible for the light display at Brethren Care Village as well as Hospice of North Central Ohio’s Tree of Lights tree in downtown Ashland’s Corner Park. Most years, the company has a float in the holiday parade downtown, and they carried Santa Claus in the parade for several years.
It’s no secret the family is on a mission to light up Ashland for Christmas.
“I look it as the lights, they put a smile on people’s faces — mainly the kids,” Mitch said. “You hear the oohs and the aahs. A lot of people enjoy it, young and old.”
Nursing home staff like to bring their residents past both houses on bus trips, and families come by with their kids. That’s what inspires Danny to put the time and money into making his home and yard shine.
“Back when we were kids, it seemed like there were so many people that did it,” he said. “This year it seems like there’s more in town. But for so many years it seemed like there was nowhere to go, so we’re kind of known in town as a place people take their kids. That’s kind of why I do it now.”
Mitch said he spent about $2,300 on new lights this year, and the business bought more. He estimates he has about 60,000-70,000 lights at his house alone, and Danny has a similar number.
The pair started hanging lights in early November,. Mitch guesses he spent between 100 and 150 hours on his home display on evenings and weekends, with help from some of his employees.
“We both add every year,” Mitch said, noting he now has added a train, a helicopter and a tractor as well as some twinkling lights to his lineup of decorations.
Danny boosted the display with colorful trees along his driveway and a new train decoration.
If there’s one thing that keeps the pair going, it’s moments like the one Mitch had Saturday night, when eight cars pulled up to his house while he was out working on his lights.
“A lady runs up and says, ‘Since you have the Christmas spirit, do you mind if we do Christmas carols for you?'” Mitch said. “There were probably 12 to 15 people, if not more. And they took their little box out with a microphone and sang to myself and my grandkids, because we had the kids that night. It was awesome.”
The Johnsons have noticed over the years that their holiday spirit is contagious.
“Once one person starts it, it kind of seems like everybody can jump on board,” Mitch said. “We need to light the town up for Christmas. It goes a long way.”
J & H has been getting a growing number of requests for lights and is planning to add holiday lighting to its official list of services next year. Anyone interested in hiring the company can call J & H at 419-281-7537.
But for the Johnsons, the Christmas light tradition has never been about growing the business.
“We want everybody to jump on board, and not necessarily for us to do it, but for them to do their own places for kids to enjoy, and even for big kids to enjoy,” Mitch said. “I think we need to light Ashland up. We need to bring more Christmas spirit downtown. It just puts everybody, I think, in a much better mood around Christmastime.”
