Editor’s note: This is the third of a series highlighting some of Northwest Indiana’s most decorative homes during the Christmas season.
Thomas Pruitt Jr. isn’t one to brag, but he beams as he discusses his Christmas lights display. The Valparaiso man said he spent 72 hours to set up the Christmas exhibition at 609 Partridge Path, that includes an estimated 34,000 individual light bulbs.
Pruitt, a student at Purdue University Northwest in Wetville, gets into the decorating spirit early. During Halloween, Pruitt transformed his yard into a “cemetery.” After Halloween Pruitt replaced the pumpkins, tombstones and skeletons with colored lights, reindeer and Santa Clauses.
Pruitt said he started doing Christmas decorations when he was 11 years old. He continued to add to the decorations until it became an attraction on Partridge Path.
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“As it got bigger more people start driving by the house,” Pruitt said. “So I had to outdo myself to bring them back next year.”
Pruitt said his dad taught him carpentry growing up and that enabled him to build the more elaborate Christmas decorations he has today. Four years ago, Pruitt salvaged some lumber from an unused playground set and built a little car for a Grinch replica. Additionally, Pruitt restored an old tow truck where he placed two mannequins dressed in Santa suits in the driver and passenger seats, respectively.
As Pruitt works harder each year trying to surpass his work from the previous year, he likes watching the reaction of visitors.
“I enjoy seeing other people enjoy it,” Pruitt said. “I like seeing people drive by and seeing people slam on their breaks. It makes people happy so it makes me happy.”
Pruitt said he’s received positive feedback ranging from letters in the mail to a random man driving up to his house and shaking his hand.
“It kind of feels like it’s kind of a community service to lighten up our world.”
Twitter @JavonteA