For as long as many native “Chunkers” can remember, the red Christmas lights adorning the exterior of the “Herman House” along Jim Thorpe’s South Street have brought a holiday glow to the town’s east side.

Owner Kevin Herman’s connection to the tradition traces back to his childhood, when Rimsky’s Carnival Supply store across from his grandmother’s house, as well as longtime Jim Thorpe funeral director John “Jack” H. Ring, had red Christmas light displays in town.

“I’ve been doing it for about 30 years,” Herman said of the lights at his house, which has been in his family for 65 years. “It started small. Nothing like it is today. Even when I was in the service, my two younger brothers had a small display. After I got out and came back from service, it slowly grew.”

Over the years, Herman has transformed the tradition into a breathtaking spectacle that graces Jim Thorpe each holiday season. The evolution is evident in the shift from larger light bulbs to smaller ones and eventually to energy-efficient LED lights. While the technology has changed, Herman explained, the essence of the tradition has only grown.

“As I get older, it takes me a little bit longer, but I usually start putting them up sometime about the second or third week in November, depending on the weather.”

One distinctive feature of Herman’s display is the synchronized lighting, with the entire spectacle coming to life and fading into darkness simultaneously. The timer, set at 5:15 and 10:15 p.m., ensures a seamless transition that leaves onlookers in awe.

The meticulous planning extends to the electrical setup, with Herman describing a custom-built control box by his brother that streamlines the process. Three separate circuits ensure a smooth operation, avoiding confusion and maintaining the awe-inspiring effect.

“When my father owned the home, he put in three separate breakers for all the lights because the big Christmas lights were drawing quite a bit of power,” Herman said. “The other lights were still drawing power too and you had to separate so you didn’t blow a fuse. My brother built the box and now we have three wires in and three wires out. A regular little timer activates the whole thing.”

When it comes to dismantling the display, Herman said 95% is taken down within two weeks after Russian Christmas, celebrated on Jan. 7. The remaining 5% of higher-elevated installations are left up year round.

Despite the effort required, Herman finds joy in continuing this long standing family tradition.

“One way of giving back to the community is a Christmas display,” he said. “It was always kind of a gift from my dad and I to the community. We’re very proud of the family and the house.”

While the front of the house mesmerizes those who can see it when approaching from the west side of town, Herman reveals that there is more to the display than meets the eye. The back of the house boasts additional elements that few have witnessed, creating an air of mystery and excitement for those who stumble upon it.

The magic of Herman’s Christmas lights recently gained attention when local photographer Desha Utsick captured the display and shared it on Facebook. The post drew a tremendous response from the community, with numerous comments expressing gratitude for the annual tradition.

“It’s not like the great lights show on ABC, but for people who have lived here all their lives and have gone down to the market or come across the old bridge, they saw this house,” Herman said. “It really became known as the Gingerbread House and we’re happy to keep it going.”