Harlem homes win prizes for Christmas displays

The Pioneer Garden Club rekindled a dormant holiday tradition Dec. 12, choosing the best holiday home displays in town.

With so many Harlem homes dressed in twinkling lights and scarlet-ribboned wreaths, it was difficult to settle on winners in the five categories, club president Ann Blalock said.

But the votes are in.

"We got three people not members of the garden club who were not competing and who are artistically inclined to judge in those categories," Blalock said.

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Allan Connor's classic display of spotlighted wreaths and red bows at 420 West Forest St. took the Best Traditional and Most Elegant prize.

"It really is a startling display," Blalock said. "It is very traditional."

For the winners, art students at Harlem High School designed signs fitted with large blue ribbons, Blalock said.

Joe Jolly, owner of Main Street Florist, shows off his Best Commercial sign in the snowy front window next to his decorated Christmas tree.

The award for the home with the Best Depiction of the Meaning of Christmas was given to Edward Ward for the manger scene in front of his house at 165 Shady Grove Drive.

The Best Overall Display prize was awarded for the display at Buck Drenner's home at 485 Paschal St.

"He has lots of lights, and they are very tastefully done," Blalock said.

But when it comes to lights, Vicki Hoffa has lots of them. Her 617 Fairview Drive home took the prize for Best Lighting Display.

"She has about a million of them," Harlem Mayor Scott Dean joked. "Airplanes could land on her property, there are so many."