Scottsburg resident Gary Bush works on installing some of the string lights for his Christmas display, a long-standing family tradition that his parents James and Alice Bush started when he was just 5 years old.
Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
The holidays are a time of year when everyone gathers around to uphold family traditions and share the spirit of the season.
For Scottsburg resident Gary Bush, this time of year is a time to uphold a family tradition that his parents, James and Alice Bush, started in 1965. The family started the tradition because of the love of Christmas lights that Bush had at a young age.
Bush said that the family tradition that started 59 years ago is 2nd to the Christmas movie Classic “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” that came out the year before his family’s decoration tradition began.
“I believe we are the longest-running family tradition in Scott County as far as decorating, being 59 years on the same corner,” said Bush.
Bush’s lights started on his home on 510 S 1st St. and eventually, the decorations outgrew the property and he added three other lots that he owns to accommodate the light display.
“My dad’s dream was to add something new every year,” said Bush, “so, that has continued and it will for our 59th year. Again there is going to be something new here.”
One of the new displays for this year includes a “Peace of Earth” sign, and a pair of white doves that will be on the property on Terrell Street.
Over the years, Bush has purchased some of the decorations from local shops in Scottsburg which include the old Shoppers Mart (formerly located on the east side of the square in Scottsburg) and a local antique shop (formally located across from Scottsburg City Hall). Other people throughout the years have also contributed to the decorations as well throughout the years.
He also added four Christmas houses that are on the north side of his house, which he and his mother built as a part of the decorations.
He starts Putting up Christmas decorations in early November in order to have this illuminated for display by Thanksgiving.
With all of those decorations, how does he store them? “Some of the decorations we still have the original boxes. Others are put in plastic bags, but if they are fragile, it’s bubble wrap then plastic bags. We set everything upright when storing. We do not lay them down on top of each other. All the cords and timers are all labeled and stored in plastic. The lights on the house and other buildings are also labeled and stored in totes.
Bush said that the lights will be up through December with the best time being between 6 to 9 p.m. to see the display completely lit.