Ripley Holiday Light Display Honors Memory, Connects Adams County

Mark Carpenter and his wife Aimee again brightened U.S. 52 West through Ripley on December 24 with a holiday light display that has become a familiar stop for Adams County travelers. The display, maintained by Carpenter, editor and sports editor of The People’s Defender, draws passing drivers who slow to look and community members who count it among local seasonal traditions. For Carpenter the lights carry personal meaning as well as neighborhood appeal, a way to honor family and bring cheer during a difficult time.

Carpenter has covered Adams County sports since 2010 and took on the role of editor in 2017, making him a steady presence in county life even though he does not live inside the county limits. The display began simply. “We’ve always put up Christmas lights because of our kids,” he said, and later grew when a local group started a village lights contest. “But we stepped it up a couple of years ago when a group in the village began a lights contest.” The Carpenters opted not to enter the contest this year, choosing instead to share the display informally with neighbors and travelers. “All of the people who see us and tell us that our lights are ‘Amazing’ or ‘Beautiful’ makes it worthwhile to us,” Carpenter said.

Putting the display together starts around Thanksgiving when weather allows. “If we get a semi-warm day around Thanksgiving we try to hang the overhead lights,” Carpenter said, adding that “lots of folks drive by and see me up on the ladder.” The work takes several days and sometimes happens in harsh weather. Recent heavy snowfall briefly knocked parts of the display offline. “Some of our lights went out and I was out there in the snow looking for the fix,” he said. The family has faced equipment strain this season as breakers have blown and outlets have been overloaded, and they limit daytime use to manage electric bills.

Beyond the sparkle, the display raises practical concerns for public safety and household budgets. The fall from the roof several years ago that Carpenter recalled underscores the risks homeowners face when installing decorations. For the community the lights offer mental health benefits in the form of shared ritual and remembrance. “I think in some way that the lights I put out are a little bit of a tribute to her,” Carpenter said of his late mother. “I miss her Christmas dinners and I know she would have loved the light display.”

As residents travel local streets this week, Carpenter encouraged people to take time to enjoy neighborhood displays and the spirit they foster. “If you are driving down U.S. 52 West through Ripley, hopefully you will notice our display after dark,” he said. “Get in your car and drive around wherever you live and admire all the displays and get a little bit more of that Christmas spirit.” Local leaders and neighbors may consider simple safety reminders and energy saving tips in future seasons to protect volunteers and manage costs while keeping the community traditions that matter most.