GREENVILLE – The Greenville Senior High School Wavaires continued their Christmas tradition of performing before a packed house at the home of 79-year-old Dick Brown, whose dazzling holiday display on Requarth Road has become a Darke County landmark—one locals jokingly say can be seen from outer space.
As visitors turn into the long driveway just outside the Greenville city limits, they are greeted by student volunteers handing out large Christmas candy canes. More than 12,000 were distributed last year, and this season is quickly catching up, with 3,000 candy canes already given out in the first week.
Brown has been decorating his home for 33 years, ever since moving to the property.
“Thirty-three years ago, when we moved out here, we started it that first year,” Brown said. “The Wavaires have been doing it for about 12 years. We used to be a church caroling party followed by a carry-in dinner. The Wavaires came out here separately, and we put them together. Now we don’t do the caroling anymore.”
GHS Vocal Music Director Chelsea Whirledge shared how the tradition began.
“It kind of naturally happened one year back around 2014,” Whirledge said. “We were having the Wavaire Christmas party and some of the kids were like, ‘let’s go out to Mr. Brown’s house to drive through the lights and get some candy canes,’ so they came in here and ended up singing a couple of Christmas songs.”
“The next year, Mr. Brown said, ‘I really liked that,’ so we came back again,” she continued. “And then it’s evolved into he does a Christmas party with some people from his church, other friends, and people from the community, and then we come out and sing Christmas songs – and get candy canes.”
Brown, who manages the massive display himself, says he has no timetable for stepping away from the work it requires.
“If I feel up to it,” he said. “I don’t feel that old now, but eventually things are going to turn. It helps me physically to keep active and doing it.”
As he disappeared back into the glow of his lights, Brown offered a final holiday greeting:
“Merry Christmas to everyone.”
