Ultimate Christmas Village

Alabama Silverhill Ever started a project that just kept growing and growing? A Silverhill man has a big collection of miniatures...and might now have the ultimate Christmas display.

by Jere Hough

Published: Wed, August 06, 2008 - 1:36 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, January 07, 2009 - 4:44 pm CST

The Christmas Village covers a table 12 feet across and 36 feet long! When people see it for the first time, they always say the same thing.
"Oh my God!" laughs Wayne Hall.
Wayne Hall and his wife Phyllis hear that a lot now. Their village is finished. It represents twenty years of collecting hundreds of houses, stores, cars, and other miniatures. It also took Hall about two years to build the huge table and a building to house it and then setting up the display.
The snow is the common artificial snow available in craft stores. But the streets are paved with kitty litter
There are model trains, miniature automobiles, street cars, airplanes, and one flying sleigh.
"It's hard to pick one that's really a favorite." says Hall. "I like the animated part that's back in the wilderness area..., but all of it to me has got a special meeting."
The wilderness area has lots of motion...from the gondola lift to the skiers and the skaters. There is even a sled run.
Hall says the collection is complete even though he recently found new items in a local Christmas store. "...I could have walked out of there with another thousand or two thousand worth of stuff easilly, but no place to put it!"
There are hundreds of tiny light bubs in the houses that eventually burn out, sometimes in the middle of that big table.
"I've got a strip of plywood I'll take," explains Hall. "Move my cars over on whatever street's closest to...and ease my way out there. Work it up, change the bulb, put it back in, set it back down."

You might also be able to arrange for your church or other group to see the Christmas Village. Call (251) 979-3246 or (251) 979-3276 for details. You can also email the Halls at [prissy1@gulftel.com].

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