Christmas spirit shines in the county
Dale and Arlene Sprowls don't sit around after Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy the sleepiness brought on by too much turkey.
Back
Dale and Arlene Sprowles, who live on on Hereford farm Road in Evans, decorate their home, both inside and out, with lights every year right after Thanksgiving. They also put up a 9-foot-tall Christmas tree, which this year is decorated in red and features teddy bear ornaments.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Instead, the Evans couple live up to tradition and get busy early, putting up what becomes a dazzling light display outside and inside their home on Hereford Farm Road.
"It's a lot of work, but my husband starts Thanksgiving Day," Mrs. Sprowls said, referring to installing both the outdoor and indoor displays.
The Sprowlses purchased their home at 4805 Hereford Farm Road 10 years ago.
"We have always decorated for Christmas," Mrs. Sprowls said.
The thousands of twinkling lights surrounding the home don't seem to make much of a change in the electric bill, Mrs. Sprowls said.
The tradition also leads the couple to put up a 9-foot tree, which is decorated differently each year.
This year, it is covered with the color red and teddy bears.
"It's a job getting that thing up," Mr. Sprowls said.
Flintrock Way, off Flowing Wells Road in Martinez, is decorated all the way to the end. This home has icicle lights hanging from the eaves and a lighted Santa on the roof with his reindeer team.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
The Sprowlses are not the only Columbia County residents who show their spirit through light displays.
It seems some measure their Christmas spirit by the distance from which the glow of their displays can be seen.
The following is not a complete list, but it is a sampling of some other large lighting display locations in the county:
• The city of Grovetown's lighting display at West Robinson Avenue and Old Wrightsboro Road.
• 727 Low Meadow Drive in the Birchwood subdivision in Evans
• 4753 Paxton Way in the Birchwood subdivision in Evans
• 4725 Hardy McManus Road, near Halali Farm Road, in Evans
This home, at 727 Low Meadow Drive in the Birchwood subdivision, has blue lights on the trees and a lighted garage door.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
• 4085 Old Trail Road West in Martinez
• 331 to 337 McCormick Road, next to South Columbia Elementary School, in Martinez
• The entire length of Flintrock Way, off Flowing Wells Road, in Martinez
A home at 4753 Paxton Way, in the Birchwood subdivision off Blanchard Road in Evans, has its driveway lined with lighted candy canes.
Photo by Valerie Rowell